?Chapter 1450:


    Hadley had mentioned something vague about the situation—hadn’t it involved Locke somehow?


    “Listen carefully…” Linda propelled her wheelchair forward, invading Elissa’s space as she deliberately enunciated each word, her revtion striking like physical blows.


    “You bore his child… You are Locke’s biological mother!”


    Elissa’s entire body seized, her expression vacant as though the words had failed to register in her consciousness.


    “What… what are you saying?” she managed to whisper.


    Elissa’s jaw ckened, her chest rising and falling with increasingly frantic breaths.


    Suddenly, Ernest’s inexplicable kindness made perfect sense. His apparent affection had materialized so mysteriously because it had roots elsewhere! A soundless, causticugh escaped Elissa’s lips. In this ruthless world, no gesture came without hidden motivation.


    But Locke?


    Could he truly be her child?<fn16df> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel</fn16df>


    Elissa’s trembling fingers drifted unconsciously to rest upon her abdomen. Images of Locke’s rounded cheeks and luminous, joy-filled eyes flooded her mind unbidden…


    How could such a precious, innocent creature havee from her without any memory of it?


    Linda scrutinized Elissa’s every micro-expression, savoring each flicker of devastation crossing her face.


    A cruelugh bubbled from her throat. “My, my, that expression says everything. Truly clueless, aren’t you? Ernest has kept you in the dark all this time?” She dipped her chin knowingly. “Logical, when you think about it. Your marriage remains intact, and Ernest—ever the gentleman—wouldn’t dare overstep certain boundaries.”


    She allowed the silence to stretch painfully before her smile crystallized into something cial.


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    “Ask yourself this—does Ernest genuinely love you for yourself, or is it just because of Locke—and you just the inconvenient package deal attached to Locke?”


    Linda released an exaggerated sigh. “My mission is aplished. I’ve delivered my message, so I’ll take my leave.”


    As she pivoted her wheelchair away, vindictive pleasure surged through Linda’s veins.


    If happiness had been ripped from her grasp, she would ensure others tasted the same bitter deprivation.


    Her downfall would not be solitary; she would drag them all into the abyss beside her, extracting payment from each in turn.


    “My child…” Elissa whispered hoarsely, her gaze fixed unseeing on Linda’s retreating silhouette, bewilderment clouding her eyes. “I gave birth to a child? Is Locke truly my son? How is this even possible?”


    “So strange,” Elissa murmured.


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