“Shut up!”

The words ripped right through him. A fiery blaze flared in Ernest’s bloodshot eyes, burning with uncontainable fury.

Without warning, he swung his fist with desperate force and drove it into Eric’s jaw.

“Mr. Flynn!” Quentin stepped forward to intervene.

“Leave us!” Eric steadied himself from the blow and shoved Quentin’s arm away. Then, he locked eyes with Ernest and provoked him. “If hitting me makes you feel better, then keep going! But I’ll say this again and again… Elissa isn’t coming back!”

“You’re lying!” Ernest yanked Eric by the collar, his other hand clenched into a tight fist. Though raised, it wouldn’t come down. His whole frame shook from trying to hold himself back. “You want more, huh?”

“Go ahead.” Eric laughed bitterly and dared him. “Ernest, Elissa… she’s gone…”

“Ernest!”

A voice cut through the moment.

Savannah rushed over, nearly tripping as she got out of the car. Neville was right behind her.

“Ernest!” She stormed up, shoved Eric aside, and grabbed Ernest by his collar. Eyes blazing with hatred, she demanded, “Where’s my daughter? Tell me, where is my daughter?!”

Ernest’s arm dropped, and he stood there rigid. “Mrs. Brown—”

“Don’t ‘Mrs. Brown’ me!” Savannah’s long hair whipped wildly in the wind, a chaotic veil that failed to conceal the anguish etched across her face. “It’s you! You ruined Elissa! If you’d let her go sooner, she’d be safe at home with me in Ontmond by now!”

Losing Elissa had drained all the life from Savannah. It was as if half her soul had been ripped straight out.

“Give me back Elissa! Give me back my daughter!” she bellowed.

Ernest stood there, his tall frame swaying as Savannah pulled and shook him. Neville stepped in and pulled her back. “Savannah, you have to look after yourself!”

? ? ν﹒

“Neville!” Savannah collapsed into her husband’s arms, her body wracked with sobs. “She’s gone! My Elissa’s gone! I came here to bring her home. She promised me she’d come home with me!”

“I’m sorry. I was too late.” Neville wrapped his arms around her. He shot a heavy look at Ernest before leading her away.

“Ernest?”

“Mr. Flynn!”

Eric and Quentin rushed forward.

After Savannah’s outburst, Ernest seemed to lose all sense of himself. His eyes turned glassy and distant, his face drained of all emotion.

“Ernest, you—”

Before Eric could finish, there was a heavy thud. Ernest collapsed to his knees as if all strength had been ripped from him.

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