The people he cared about... deeply cared about...


    He could count them on one hand. Excluding Elysia and the children, who came into his lifeter, and his parents, who were long gone, and Lowell and Great-Uncle Keaton... that only left *him*.


    But that made no sense. He suspected that *he* was the mysterious figure. He couldn''t use himself as a threat against him.


    But besides him, who else could it be?


    Tarquin couldn''t think. His mind was buzzing, unable to think clearly. After watching the video his parents left, he was suffocated with anger and grief. A lump was caught in his throat, choking him, making him feel unbearably sick. And now, this call from the mysterious figure had made him even more agitated. His hatred for the man had reached its peak. He wished he could teleport to his side and end this once and for all.


    But thinking of the bigger picture, he could only endure.


    Tarquin closed his eyes, picturing Elysia and the children. As their faces appeared in his mind, his chaotic emotions finally began to settle...


    It was just after two in the morning when Tarquin arrived at the Hawkins family home


    in Oceanopolis. yton Hawkins, hearing the news, quickly got out of bed and came out with a jacket thrown over his shoulders.


    Seeing it was really Tarquin, yton was surprised. "Tarquin, what a surprise! Elysia didn''t mention you wereing."


    Tarquin managed a small smile. “It was ast-minute decision. I didn''t want to wake you all, so I didn''t call ahead."


    "Is everything taken care of over there?"


    "Yes."


    "Are you hungry?" yton asked immediately. "I can go make you ate-night snack."


    "I''m not hungry, Dad, please don''t go to any trouble,” Tarquin declined. “Are Elysia and the kids asleep upstairs?"


    "Yes, they all went to bed early."


    "Then I''ll go up to see Elysia. You should get back to bed. We can talk more tomorrow."


    "Alright, alright. You go on up and get some rest. If you get hungryter, juste downstairs. The kitchen is always ready to whip something up."


    "Okay."


    Anxious to see Elysia and not wanting to keep yton up, Tarquin went straight upstairs.


    The new butler, an earnest man, said with a smile, "You can really see how much those two love each other. He rushes here in the middle of the night and is in such a hurry to see her."


    yton chuckled. "He is very good to Elysia."


    "The missus is very fortunate to have found such a loving husband," the butler said. “And you and Mrs. Hawkins are fortunate to have found such a wonderful son-in-w."


    ytonughed. "Satisfactory, yes, but just between you and me, sometimes I get this strange feeling... that he''s not good enough for my daughter.”


    The butler grinned. “Ah, I know this one. It''s the ssic father-inw''s curse. No man is ever good enough for his little girl!"


    yton considered it and realized it was true. He chuckled. "Now that Tarquin''s here, tell the kitchen to prepare some extra dishes for tomorrow."


    "Will do."


    yton returned to his room in a good mood and went back to sleep.


    On the third floor, Tarquin had already tiptoed into Elysia''s room. Elysia, not knowing


    he was back, was fast asleep, her breathing even and steady.


    Having rushed all this way, Tarquin was now terrified of waking her, even breathing cautiously. He stood by the bed watching her, his gaze. soft and filled with love. His restless, agitated heart was now stirring with a different kind of longing He wanted to kiss her, to hold her, to melt into her. He desperately wanted to slide into bed right then and there.


    But he hadn''t washed up yet.


    Tarquin swallowed hard, his throat tight.


    He gently caressed Elysia''s cheek, then took off his jacket, carefully set aside the box from his waist, and grabbed a robe to head to the quest bathroom. He had stayed here ?ver a month before, so he knew his way around, and he still had clothes here.


    After a quick shower, Tarquin checked on the children before returning to the bedroom. He slipped into bed as quietly as possible and wrapped his arms around Elysia from behind. The moment he held her, he had to fight to control his


    breathing as his body instantly reacted. But he didn''t dare move, not


    wanting to disturb her sleep.


    Sensing something, Elysia yawned, turned over, and sleepily opened her eyes.