"Mr. Hawkins, you''re too kind. We only just arrived in Oceanopolis this morning and already we''ve connected with the Hawkins n. It feels like fate that we''ve crossed paths."


    yton nodded enthusiastically.


    "Absolutely, it''s destiny. Just wait until you meet my wife, Ms. Thorne, and the kids. You''ll see, their features, they resemble hers so much!"


    The Patel brothers nodded in agreement,


    "It''s uncanny, really. Even though Ms. Thorne looks different from our sister, seeing her is like being transported back to when our sister was in her twenties."


    Tarquin chimed in, "Well, they are her flesh and blood, so of course, they look alike."


    He nced at his wife, who remained silent, and he chose to do the same.


    yton sighed, "s, my family, the Hawkins, are going through a rough patch. There are folks stirring up trouble, dragging Ms. Thorne into this mess and causing her distress."


    yton knew the root of their troubles wasn''t just Helen Murphy''s viral mishap involving cat litter.


    The real issue was Elysia uncovering and exposing the abuse Pam Patel had endured, with evidence to back it up!


    That''s why the Murphys were hell-bent on taking Elysia and Evan. Once in their grasp, mother and son would undoubtedly face a severe beating. Moreover, the Murphys nned to use Evan as leverage to force Elysia into destroying the evidence and retracting her statements.


    "It''s all because of me... Ms. Thorne is suffering," ytonmented with guilt.


    Elysia quickly asserted, "My troubles aren''t because of you, but because of them!"


    Elliot furrowed his brow, "Daddy, the Murphy family, they''re bullying Mommy and Evan!"


    Evan raised his voice inint,


    "It''s them! They''re the viins! Daddy, they want to take me and mommy away, they''re out to settle scores with us! Daddy, you have to stop them!" Tarquin''s gaze sharpened, cutting through the air towards the Murphys.


    The Murphy father and son duo shuddered, with Roger hiding behind his father at the intimidating sight.


    This was a job for the senior Murphy, not the faint-hearted.


    Bobby, disregarding his disdain for his son''s cowardice, approached Tarquin with his cane shaking,


    "My apologies, Mr. Bradford. I had no clue Ms. Thorne and the young master were your family. Had I known, I would''ve never caused them trouble; they would''ve been treated with the utmost respect."


    Tarquin ignored him, turning politely to yton,


    "Mr. Hawkins, let''s set aside your grievances with the Murphy family for now. Allow me to address my own issues with them, shall we?"


    yton nodded eagerly, "Of course, of course!"


    He couldn''t have been more pleased.


    So the Murphys wanted a piece of Elysia and Evan? Now that they had backup, let''s see them try!


    yton, already buzzing with excitement at the thought of being rted to Tarquin through his daughter, stood tall beside him, defiantly eyeing the Murphy duo,


    Go on, keep acting tough in front of Mr. Bradford. Show us what you''ve got, don''t hold back, or you''re the coward!


    Bobby, catching yton''s challenging gaze, felt every bit of his being seethe with frustration!


    But now, faced with Tarquin, he had to swallow his pride.


    Even though he had never directly dealt with Tarquin, the rumors were enough: this was not a man to provoke, not unless you had a death wish. The Murphys couldn''t afford to make an enemy of him!


    Lowering his stance, Bobby offered a conciliatory smile,


    “Mr. Bradford, this has all been a misunderstanding, truly."


    Bobby hoped that since yton, who had no blood ties to Tarquin, was treated with courtesy, perhaps showing genuine remorse would spare the Murphys from further conflict.


    Maybe, just maybe, this could lead to an alliance, fostering major coborations ahead.