It was merely breakfast, yet Eric behaved as though the world were ending.

They had traveled several blocks when Ernest retrieved his phone to message Hadley.

“We’ve driven far enough. You can come downstairs now.” His thumb tapped send.

Beside him, Eric’s eyes narrowed. “Ernest, who are you messaging?”

Ernest paused, shook his head, and deflected. “Someone you don’t know.” He slipped the phone back into his pocket.

“Okay.” Eric found himself speechless and shifted the topic. “What are we having?”

“We’re heading to Grandma’s Kitchen for a vegetarian feast.”

“Vegetarian?” Eric seemed surprised.

Ernest nodded. “Why? I don’t consume meat anymore. Didn’t I mention this when we dined together last time? You lost your memories, but you don’t have a poor memory, right?”

“No. I remember what you said.” Eric shook his head firmly.

He understood that Ernest’s vegetarianism served as a silent prayer for his missing beloved.

He also recognized that Ernest’s love for her flowed like an endless river. Ernest believed his unwavering devotion would protect her from harm and draw her back to him.

However, the deeper Ernest’s feelings ran for Locke’s mother, the more ruthless he seemed toward the one waiting at his home.

Ernest didn’t arrive back until the afternoon sun hung low.

The living room lay in peaceful silence. Hadley heard the sound of his entrance and emerged from the sunroom. “Ernest, you’re back. Have you had lunch?”

“Yes.” Ernest nodded curtly.

He then ventured, “Are Locke and Joy napping?”

“Yes.” Hadley smiled and nodded, gesturing toward the sunroom. “They were fussing and refused to sleep, but exhaustion finally won, so I let them rest in the sunroom.”

M0re detailz at glovels.

“You must be exhausted.”

“Not at all.” Hadley smiled, hesitated for a heartbeat, and then asked, “Ernest, do you have time now?”

Ernest’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “You have something to discuss?”

“Yes.” Hadley nodded, her expression shifting to something more serious.

“Of course.” Ernest nodded without hesitation. “Shall we speak in the study?”

“Okay.”

Hadley then found Melba and Locke’s nanny, giving them instructions to watch over the children, before following Ernest upstairs to the study.

Inside the study.

“Have a seat.”

After closing the door, they settled into chairs facing each other. Ernest had a vague sense of what Hadley wanted to discuss. “Is it about Elissa?”

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