?Chapter 3014:


    “Oh…” Elissa muttered, nodding after a moment. “Right.”


    “Don’t let his words fool you. He’s not thinking straight,” Savannah said, feeling a quiet relief as she stroked her daughter’s hair. “You must have been frightened. But don’t be. As long as I’m here, no one will ever hurt you.”


    “Alright.” Elissa gave a small smile and pressed her lips together.


    “That’s my girl.” Savannah returned the smile. “Let’s get you cleaned up and ready for bed, alright?”


    “Alright.”


    “I’ll prepare your bath. Stay put for a bit,” Savannah said before heading toward the bathroom.


    Warm mist began to rise as she filled the tub, blurring her vision.


    Watching her once lively daughter reduced to such fragility tore at her heart.


    And… as she recalled the way Elissa had reacted to Ernest earlier, unease stirred within her. Something about it felt like the beginning of trouble.


    Savannah understood all too well that Ernest wasn’t the kind of man to back down easily.


    Some battles, she thought, were bound to happen no matter how hard one tried to avoid them.


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    Even so, she was determined to shield her daughter from any harm that mighte their way.


    When the bathwater finally reached the right warmth, Savannah went back to Elissa’s room and said, “It’s ready now. You can take your bath.”


    “Alright.”


    The moment Elissa slipped into the tub, the heat of the water rxed her body. She let her eyes drift shut, resting her head against the edge while Savannah gently began to wash her hair.


    “Mom,” Elissa said suddenly, her eyes fluttering open as a thought came to her. “Tomorrow… are we going… to the… hospital?”


    Savannah’s hands stilled for a second before she answered, “Yes. We are.”


    “Alright,” Elissa muttered, her voice quiet as she sank back into the calm silence of the bath.


    That night, Ernest made his way back to the city center and checked into a modest hotel.


    Getting hold of Elissa’s medical files was turning into a challenge. With Neville standing guard, there was no easy way to ess them.


    Still, doing nothing wasn’t an option either.


    All he wanted was to see her again.


    That single purpose had brought him all the way here. However, with Savannah standing in his path, a straightforward visit was out of the question.


    Break in? Sneak around? Neither would get him anywhere.


    Both Neville and Savannah were far too cautious, and the house was equipped with guards and surveince.


    He sat there, mind nk, unable to think of a single workable n.


    When the first light of dawn crept across the sky, Ernest and his men were already back on the road to the house.


    This time, he kept his distance, not wanting to risk another confrontation. Parking far away, he watched from afar, catching only a faint glimpse of the grand gates.


    His thoughts wouldn’t stop circling back to the way Elissa had looked the day before.


    Ernest figured there was little chance Savannah would take Elissa outside—not after what happened the day before—so waiting nearby felt pointless.


    Still, he stayed put, keeping watch as the morning light grew stronger.


    By the time the clock neared ten, the gates finally swung open.


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