Chapter 207


    The rumor mill was running wild, and by the time it reached the teacher, Mr. Miller, it had morphed into


    something utterly bizare.


    “Mr. Miller, you’ve got to call the principal. Let him have a word with Elliot’s dad. The poor guy’s in a


    bad way, and he can’t have kids


    wnymore…


    Mr. Miller was taken aback by the news


    While heforted the little girl, wiping away her tears, he said, “Don’t cry, Shoy Elliot’s dad in a man,


    and you know, men don’t give birth to babies.”


    “But i want Elliot’s dad to have babies! And he needs to have nine of them”


    The teacher was puzzled. “Why nine?“.


    Because we’re short by nine husbands”


    The innocence of children, Mr. Miller thought. When Blossom heard this, she had just taken a sip of her


    coffee.


    And she spat it out! All over the colleague she was gossiping with.


    She didn’t even pause to apologize before blurting out, “The schoolgirls want Elliot’s dad to have


    babies?”


    “Yep! That’s the talk of the day. Our little girls have been in tears over it! Didn’t you hear the wails


    downstairs just now?


    “I thought I heard something, but I had no idea it was over this… Are they all calmed down now? What


    did you say to them?”


    “I had Elliot tell them that he’d talk to his dad when he got home, to take good care of himself, and


    maybe, just maybe, try harder to bring these nine sons into the world.


    Blossom was in stitches!


    First she nearly choked on her drink, and now, she was dying ofughter!


    Elysia couldn’t believe her ears when she heard the story.


    It was ridiculous, exasperating, and yet, somehow, hrious.


    The world of children is simple and yet so fantastical, their thoughts so wild and free


    But thinking of Elijah, her smile froze, and she couldn’t help but sigh


    While most children’s worlds were full of vibrant colors and life, Elijah’s was a desert storm of confusion


    and fog.


    Elysia”


    Hearing her name, Elysia snapped back to reality


    Callum had taken a seat across from her. He had reached out to her for a meet–up today, mentioning


    something important to discuss.


    They decided on a coffee shop near the hospital, conveniently where she had just finished delivering


    lunch to Elijah, making her arrival at the cafe slightly ahead of Callum.


    “Sorry, the parking was a nightmare, took me forever to find a spot,” Callum said.


    “It’s alright, I’ve only been here a minute myself.”


    Callum signaled for the waiter, ordering two cups of coffee before he began apologetically. “About


    ut that mess with Tarquin, I’m really somy. I’d just gotten back from abroad when Tarquin hit me up


    asking for a favor. Didn’t think much of it until it was toote.”


    “I never saw iting, either.”


    To think Tarquin, of all people, capable of such deceit! She had him pegged as a man of integrity, never


    imagining…


    “You and Tarquin go way back?” Elysia asked.


    Callum nodded. “I met him overseas, and I have known him for years.”


    “Weren’t


    you educated here?”


    “Yeah, but my family moved abroad early on. I met Tarquin before I came back for university. He’s been


    overseas for a while too.”


    “Ah, that exins it And Tarin?”


    That meeting, Tarquin was a no–show but Tarin unexpectedly appeared. Before she could probe


    further, Elijah had his emergency. Callum hesitated, not wanting to deceive Elysia, especially since she


    was close to Winona.


    After that day, Keaton had filled him in on Turquin and Elysia’s situation.


    Though Keaton hadn’t shared much, he got the gist: Tarquin had concealed his true identity from


    Elysia, going by Tarin!


    09:29


    Callum fumbled for words, “Met him overseas too.”


    “He’s been abroad?”


    “Yeah, his family was well–off.”


    “Well, they were. But now they’re bankrupt