Tarquin really couldn''t remember a thing. He''d overindulgedst night, tossing and turning without sleep until the early hours. Now, freshly awakened, his head throbbed, his mind buzzing annoyingly.


    He slipped into a bathrobe and shuffled towards the bathroom for a shower, pausing as he passed Elijah''s room.


    With a gentle nudge, he cracked the door open and peeked inside.


    Seeing the little guy sound asleep brought a warm glint to Tarquin''s eye.


    Quietly closing the door, his gaze inadvertently drifted towards the study, his expression instantly turning icy.


    He knew Elysia was in there, his brow furrowed in disgust, face set in a cold demeanor as he continued to the bathroom.


    Elysia''s affairs were none of his business!


    She could be with whoever she wanted; it didn''t concern him. It was just that, being a bit old-fashioned, he had little tolerance for those who weren''t faithful in rtionships.


    Shutting the bathroom door behind him, Tarquin was about to step into the shower when he noticed something on his skin.


    Red, long scratch marks, as if he''d been wed by a wild cat!


    Taken aback, Tarquin studied his reflection closely in the mirror, finding not just a few on his front but even more on his back!


    What the heck?


    Who did this?!


    shes ofst night began to slowly resurface in his mind...


    He''d been drunk, haunted by nightmares of his parents'' tragic ident, and a memory from six years ago on the day he returned to the States, thinking he''d been drugged at the airport, then entangled with Elijah''s mother in a darkened room...


    No, that wasn''t right!


    The memory of his parents'' ident was a dream, but Elijah''s mother wasn''t!


    He clearly remembered when he turned on the lights, he wasn''t at the airport but in his bedroom!


    And there she was, lying on his bed!


    He even recalled holding her tight, apologizing profusely!


    Meaning, Elijah''s mother was truly there, not a figment of his imagination. The scratches were proof!


    It wasn''t a dream; she had reallye back!


    But where was she now?


    The bite mark on Elysia''s neck...


    Realization struck Tarquin like a bolt of lightning, his breath hitching as he quickly wrapped himself in his bathrobe and flung open the bathroom door!


    There was Elysia, tiptoeing to the door, stealthily turning the knob, nning her escape!


    Caught off guard by Tarquin''s sudden appearance, Elysia was both surprised and awkward, stammering out an exnation,


    "I... uh, Elijah''s still sleeping. I thought I''d check in on my son at home. I''lle backter, bye."


    She attempted to make a quick exit!


    But Tarquin''s hand shot out, mming the door shut with a ''snap''.


    She wasn''t going anywhere!


    Elysia, visibly shaken, turned to face him, her back pressed against the door,


    "What are you doing?"


    Tarquin, breathing heavily, demanded, "Was it you?!"


    "Uh? What was me?"


    "Last night, was it you?!"


    Elysia''s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing!


    Did he remember?!


    Before Elysia could respond, Tarquin pressed on, "And six years ago, it was you, wasn''t it?"


    Elysia panicked,


    "No! I don''t know what you''re talking about. Six years ago, I was in a small vige!"


    "You''re lying! Six years ago, you were in Jindale City! I''ve looked into it!"


    "I... Yes, I was in Jindale City six years ago, but after my divorce, I moved to the vige. I''ve never met you, I don''t know you! I don''t know what you''re talking about!"


    Tarquin''s chest heaved with emotion, his voiceden with urgency,


    "Then tell me, what were you doing on March 27th, six years ago?"