“Mom!” Ellis blurted out, his tone sharp.

“What were you thinking, showing up like this? What on earth did you say to her?”

“What could I have been thinking?” July huffed, shrugging.

“I came to see you. Meeting her here was just a coincidence…” Her expression softened into a playful smile.

“Let’s say destiny is at work between the future mother and daughter-in-law.”

Caught off guard, Ellis quickly hushed his mother.

“Mom, don’t say things like that.”

Nothing had been settled yet. How could she already call Hadley his future daughter-in-law?

“Didn’t my brother tell you? She rejected me.”

“He did.” July shot her son a glance and snorted.

“You’re my son. Do you think I don’t know you? After finally meeting someone special, would you give up so easily just because she turned you down?”

“Of course not,” Ellis admitted.

His mother was right, but he didn’t like her meddling in this matter.

“Mom, I’ll take care of it,” he insisted, his tone unusually stern.

July froze, and her expression clouded over. After a long pause, she exhaled slowly.

“I’m not trying to interfere. It really was just a coincidence that I met her today.”

Her gaze softened with concern as she explained, “I’m just worried you’ll miss your chance. Maybe I pushed too hard, but don’t be angry with me. Anyway, don’t worry about it. Your father, your three brothers, and I… we’re all on your side.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Ellis rested a hand gently on her shoulder.

“I know you all care about me. If the day comes when I can bring her home and introduce her proudly as my girlfriend, then you can spoil her as much as you like.”

“Of course!” July smiled warmly.

“You don’t have to say it. Whoever you love, I’ll love too. I’ll treat her like my own daughter.”

I?t€$? ￠н?ρ?ε ?и glov?l.om

After reassuring his mother, Ellis quickly made his way downstairs for Hadley.

Inside the meeting room, she was still waiting. The moment he stepped inside, she stood up and greeted him, “Mr. Gomez.”

“Hey.” He crossed the room in long strides, his gaze lowered to the ground.

“About earlier…”

He wanted to explain about his mother.

But before he could continue, she cut him off.

“Where’s the peach pit?” She tilted her head slightly, holding out her right palm. She had come here at his request to verify it.

“Ah.” Ellis snapped back to reality, then quickly nodded.

Oh, right. He’d gotten sidetracked. The case came first.

“Hang on.” Ellis drew an evidence bag from his coat pocket and held it out.

“Take a look at this. Is this it?”

Hadley took the bag and traced the peach pit through the thin layer of plastic.

“Since these trinkets all look alike, I just wanted to be sure,” Ellis explained.

“This is it.” Hadley looked up and met his gaze, her eyes rimmed red.

“It’s definitely Eric’s. This pit came from the peach my daughter ate. The whistle was carved by my own hands, and the red string… I tied it myself.”

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