?Chapter 1364:


    “Locke!”


    Elissa dropped to her knees, arms outstretched as she gathered the child into a fierce embrace.


    “Miss Hond!”


    The two hugged tightly.


    Locke buried his face against Elissa’s neck, his small body trembling with sobs. “Miss Hond, I missed you so much! I thought—I thought you didn’t want me anymore!”


    “Don’t cry, Locke.” Elissa’s vision blurred with unshed tears as she gently brushed the wetness from Locke’s cheeks with her thumb. “I missed you too… more than you know.”


    Ernest loomed in the background, a silent observer. The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly as he witnessed their emotional reunion. Such unbound emotions!


    Their connection ran deeper than he had anticipated—a bond forged in something more profound than mere circumstance.


    As days melted into weeks, he believed Elissa would definitely find that walking away from Locke grew heavier on her heart.


    At eight o’clock, Elissa descended the stairs.


    Ernest had just finished his workout, sweat still glistening on his brow, when they encountered each other.


    “Mr. Flynn.” A polite smile touched Elissa’s lips. “I’m heading out.”


    “Hold on…” Ernest reached out, not quite touching her arm. “The subway station up ahead is closed for repairs today. Let me give you a ride.”


    Elissa hesitated, weighing her options. With the subway unavable, getting to her destination would be a hassle.


    “I can drop you at the next operational station. How does that sound?” Ernest offered, his tone gentle, clearly trying not to pressure her.


    “Well… that works for me. Thank you,” she conceded with a small nod.


    “My pleasure.”


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    They made their way to the garage together, the silence between them palpable as Ernest guided the car out of Flynn Mansion’s imposing gates.


    In the passenger seat, Elissa clutched her phone, absently scrolling through social media feeds to distract herself from the awkward intimacy of being alone with him in the confined space.


    Without warning, Elissa froze. Her fingers clenched around her phone, and tension radiated through her entire frame.


    “Elissa?” Ernest darted a concerned nce her way, his brow furrowing. “What’s wrong?”


    “It’s my grandfather…” Elissa’s voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “He has taken ill…”


    Ernest’s heart skipped a beat.


    He eased the car to the roadside, his mind racing. Turning to Elissa, he asked gently, “Your grandfather is unwell?”


    “Yes,” Elissa whispered, nodding as she handed him her phone, her expression fraught with worry.


    Addy, her grandfather, was a celebrated painter whose fame echoed far beyond their small circle. Though Ernest had never met him, Addy’s renown was undeniable.


    ncing at the phone, Ernest’s eyes fell on a trending topic on Twitter. Addy had copsed at an art exhibition earlier that day.


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