?Chapter 3043:


    Ernest stood on the golf course, but his focus never left Elissa. He noticed she hadn’t swung once. Neither had Neville nor Savannah. After a while, it seemed the entire family had vanished from sight.


    Maybe the ce was too big, and they had simply moved to another spot?


    When a break finally came, he pulled out his phone.


    After thinking for a moment, he decided to send her a message. A call might be awkward with Savannah nearby.


    “Elissa, are you still at the field?”


    He sent it and waited. Minutes passed, but no reply came.


    Had she not checked her phone?


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    “Elissa, please reply when you can, alright?”


    That message, too, was met with silence.


    Unease crept up on him. What if Savannah had found out they were in contact? What if she’d taken Elissa’s phone?


    After wrestling with the thought, he gave in and pressed call. As the ringtone echoed in his ear, he steeled himself for Savannah’s voice.


    But it wasn’t her.


    “Hello.”


    Elissa’s voice was faint and hoarse, heavy with drowsiness. She must have just woken up.


    “Elissa?” Ernest’s chest eased with relief.


    It was her. She still had her phone.


    “What are you doing?” His fingers tapped the side of the phone, gentle but restless. “Are you still at the golf course? Were you ying and missed my messages?”


    “No.” She sat at the edge of her bed, and then after a pause, added softly, “Yes.”


    No, but yes?


    Ernest let out a smallugh; he understood her. “You mean you’re not there anymore, but you didn’t see my messages, right?”


    “Yes…” Hershes trembled.


    She was unwell, and even her mother often had to ask twice before understanding what she meant.


    But Ernest always understood her—effortlessly.


    Her eyes stung as tears welled up, blurring her sight.


    “You, in the future…”


    “Yes?” His tone was calm, patient. “Take your time. Do you need me to do something?”


    Elissa froze. He was truly gentle.


    Her vision swam again, and she gripped the phone tighter.


    “From now on… don’te see me anymore.”


    Ernest froze, narrowing his eyes. His gaze darkened. “Why?”


    “Because…” Elissa lowered her head; tears slipped down andnded on her palm. “I don’t want to see you again!”


    The words tore from her lips before she could stop them. She hung up immediately.


    The phone slipped from her grasp as her body began to tremble. She leaned forward and copsed onto the bed, her face buried deep into the pillow.


    Muffled sobs escaped her lips.


    Ernest stared at the phone in his hand. His face was drawn, his expression lost and helpless.


    When did it all start to go wrong? They had been fine justst night.


    Was it Savannah?


    What had she said—or done—to Elissa?


    He rubbed his temples, frustration wing through him. If her parents refused to ept him, then no matter what he did, it would all be useless. The thought hollowed him.


    That afternoon, Neville left for a social event.


    When Elissa woke, Savannah took her to a spa.


    The mother and daughter had booked a suite—one room held a private hot spring pool, the other a beauty treatment area. After soaking for a while, a masseuse approached Savannah.


    “Mrs. Brown, it’s time for your massage.”


    “Alright.” Savannah nodded and started to rise.


    Elissa, not knowing the n, began to stand as well.


    “You don’t have toe.” Savannah smiled, gently pressing her shoulder down. “Stay and rx a bit longer. You can join meter.”


    “Okay.” Elissa didn’t quite understand, but she nodded obediently.


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