Barnaby and Nora were beside themselves when Cecil and ire orchestrated their own kidnapping drama.


    There was no way Barnaby and Nora could just stand by when it came to their daughter. They sold their house, their little corner store, everything they owned, just to gather enough cash to pay the ransom for their daughter.


    But when they found out the whole ordeal was a sham, cooked up by their own daughter and son-inw, they were livid. It was a devastation that they couldn''t recover from.


    Without the ie from the Yeager family business, the couple was left without any means to support themselves.


    They started reaching out to ire''s extended family for help, which only stirred up more trouble. The rtives were already furious, advising ire to leave Cecil, but she wouldn''t listen, pushing them away to the point of cutting ties.


    Life became even harder, and Cecil''s frustration often resulted in himshing out at ire, even when she was pregnant.


    Then Maria was born, and tragically, she had a congenital illness. Cecil med ire, and just days after giving birth, she found herself on the receiving end of his wrath once again.


    ire''s rtives couldn''t understand it. Was she bewitched? They knew she wasn''t foolish, she must see how Cecil treated her!


    Why then, would she not leave him?


    Listening to the story, Elysia thought she had the answer.


    ire was the textbook definition of being blinded by love. Once she fell, she revolved her entire existence around Cecil, losing herself and everyone else in the process. Her world narrowed down to pleasing Cecil, whatever the cost.


    Over time, her sacrifices for Cecil only grew.


    Elysia guessed, ire wasn''t dumb. She must have seen the reality of their rtionship the moment Cecil turned violent. Her refusal to leave him likely stemmed from a deep-seated unwillingness to ept defeat.


    After investing so much into the rtionship, epting it ended in divorce was something she couldn''t stomach. It was an unhealthy obsession.


    In an attempt to convince herself to stay, she might even delude herself into believing Cecil truly loved her.


    Love had be her prison, and she chose to remain in that suffering rather than step out.


    It was a bitter pill for Barnaby and Nora. To put it harshly, they might have been better off not having a daughter at all.


    Elysia sighed deeply, a wave of mncholy washing over her.


    Girls can be gentle, but they must also be clear-headed.


    Think more for oneself and those who truly love you. Be decisive, reject being blinded by love!


    Don''t let obsession harm yourself and others.


    ...


    After ire''s funeral, the family tried


    to regain some semnce of normalcy before heading back to Jindale City without Bertram, who stayed in Silver City with Maria until her health stabilized enough for travel.  swnovel


    Blossom decided to stay a few more days in Silver City with Hollis and didn''t return with them either.


    e overjov


    The family of eight set off at night and arrived back in Jindale City the next morning. It had been a while since they were home, and the household staff to see them return, especially the kids, whom they greeted with the warmth of seeing their own grandchildren.  swnovel


    The children, feeling the love, affectionately called them ''Heath'' and ''Iris'', making everyone''s hearts swell with joy.


    Pam, too, was happy and unfazed by the new environment. The staff, well aware of Pam''s rtionship with Elysia, treated her with warm hospitality and had already prepared a room for her.  swnovel


    Elysia couldn''t help but reflect: There''s no ce like home!


    Upon arriving in Jindale City, Tarquin was preupied with worry. He barely settled in before iming work obligations and rushing out, skipping breakfast.


    He didn''t head to the office, though. His destination was the hospital where Verity''s secret child was being treated.