As yton finished speaking, his phone buzzed with a new message, prompting a frown from him.


    The phone rang the next second.


    yton didn''t answer it; instead, he pocketed his phone and turned to Elysia, asking, "Ms. Thorne, I heard from Evan you''re visiting from out of town?"


    Elysia fibbed, "Yes."


    yton hastily added, "If you don''t mind, Ms. Thorne, you could cancel your hotel reservation and stay at the Hawkins residence. Bring your husband along, too. You can both stay here.


    My wife mistook you for our daughter, and seeing you made her happy. I''d like her to enjoy that feeling a bit longer."


    Before Elysia could reply, yton hurriedly assured, "Don''t worry, I''ll ensure your safety at the Hawkins residence, and it won''t interfere with your ns. You''re free toe and go as you please."


    Elysia had no intention of leaving anyway. If her father hadn''t brought it up, she would have.


    But seeing her father''s humble plea, she felt a pang of heartache.


    "It just so happens my husband is tied up with work these next few days and can''t take us out. I feel a connection with Mrs. Hawkins; I''d like to stay and keep herpany."


    yton, visibly moved, his eyes brimming with tears, said, "Thank you, thank you."


    Pam clutched Elysia''s hand tightly, "We won''t leave, Irene won''t go, Irene won''t leave Mom.”


    Elysia, with tears in her eyes, soothed her, "Yes, I won''t leave. I''ll stay by your side."


    Pam, childlike once again, burst into a radiant smile, innocence written all over her face.


    Elysia felt a deep sympathy: Despite being falsely used of such heinous acts, she remained oblivious to the nder and abuse.


    Thankfully, they had returned. The hard days for her mother were over; happiness was all that awaited.


    yton, with a heavy heart, thought, "If only Elysia really were Irene, how wonderful that would be!"


    Sighing, yton told Elysia, "Ms. Thorne, I''ve got an emergency at thepany to deal with. Please, take care of Pam for me. If you need anything, just ask the staff!"


    "Of course, go attend to your business."


    After giving his instructions, yton left the mansion.


    The news that Irene held a 15% share in Hawkins Sea-freight had spread among the board members.


    They all knew his daughter couldn''t return, and at the uing shareholders'' meeting, he was set to lose.


    So, they had already started making their moves!


    He had explicitly forbidden the smuggling of contraband on the Hawkins family ships!


    Yet, today, they had gone behind his back, loading the contraband onto the ships, nning to smuggle it overseas!


    They were tantly disregarding his authority as the current CEO!


    No sooner had yton left than Larry received the news.


    Larry was discussing Elysia''s situation with the old doctor.


    "No matter why she didn''t expose us today, this woman must be dealt with, she can''t stay!"


    The old doctor, who had been through thick and thin with yton, furrowed his brows and said, "She must go, but yton surely has arranged for her and the child''s protection. It''s not easy to act now!"


    "yton will protect her, but he surely won''t extend that protection to her husband."


    "What do you mean?"


    “Helen did some digging on them. They''re from humble beginnings, nothing notable. We can start by dealing with her husband at the hotel, then lure her there under his name!"


    "And then take her out?"


    "Exactly."


    "That''s a solid n, but is her husband going to be easy to handle?"


    Larry scoffed, "Her husband''s just a deadbeat, aplete pushover. What''s not easy about dealing with him? It''ll be a piece of cake!"


    The old doctor nodded, "Then it''s settled."


    Larry pulled out his phone to make arrangements, “We must finish this before yton returns. Let''s ensure their family meets their end in Oceanopolis today! I''ll have someone take care of her worthless husband first!"


    Tarquin: Me, a deadbeat?!