No matter how long she lay there, sleep wouldn’t come. Her annoyance only grew until she suddenly bolted upright and shouted at him, “You’re making me lose my mind!”

Startled, Ernest stared at her with wide, bewildered eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”

He had barely made a sound the entire time.

“Your breathing is so loud!” Elissa frowned, clearly irritated. “It’s keeping me awake!”

Ernest blinked, caught off guard. For a second, he didn’t know how to respond. It felt like she was just looking for something to complain about.

Still, he furrowed his brow and answered patiently, “I’ll try to breathe more quietly then.”

“No!” she snapped, arms folded. “You’re too warm. I can’t sleep with you next to me!”

It was at that moment that it finally clicked. She didn’t want him there on the same bed with her at all.

“Got it.” Ernest kept his expression neutral. He nodded, and his eyes shifted toward the sofa. The thing was small and cozy, but with his frame, there was no way he’d be able to lie down properly.

“I’ll just sleep on the floor.” Ernest stood, walked into the closet, and returned with a blanket. He laid it out beside the bed, smoothing the edges with care. Then, he glanced up at her. “Is this okay?”

Elissa stared at him, stunned. She couldn’t believe he’d rather sleep on the floor than just leave her room.

“Fine. Do whatever you want!” Elissa turned her back to him and yanked the blanket over her head.

Behind her, Ernest looked at the rise and fall of her shoulders and let out a barely audible sigh.

Of course, he knew what she was doing. She was trying to pick a fight and somehow push him away. But he wasn’t going anywhere.

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As much as her antics wore him down, the thought of losing her scared him more.

It was still dark outside. Today was Addy’s funeral.

Lion Bay had already come to life. The lights glowed softly, casting long shadows in the early morning stillness.

The gates opened with a quiet hum. Eric’s car rolled into the courtyard, tires crunching lightly over the gravel.

He stepped out first, walked around to the other side, and opened the door. Then, he offered his hand to help Hadley out.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Hadley covered her mouth and stifled a yawn.

“You didn’t sleep well, did you?” Eric frowned, his concern evident. “You can nap in the car later.”

“Okay.” Hadley nodded with a smile. It was true—she had gotten up far too early, and it was catching up to her.

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