?Chapter 3072:


    Elissa remained silent. Her eyes flicked to Ernest, then to Emma, who was approaching, and she shook her head. “I need to get home right away!” she said. She wrenched free from Ernest’s hold and tried to leave.


    “Wait!” Ernest stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “Why don’t you let Miss Carrillo take you home?”


    “I can manage on my own!” Elissa shot back, her voice edged with indignation.


    Did he really think she couldn’t manage a short trip by herself?


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    Was she so helpless that she needed someone to escort her?


    Ernest read the frustration in her gaze and softened his tone. “I know you can,” he said gently. “But you came out with her earlier today. If you go back alone, your mother will worry.”


    Elissa stayed silent. Deep down, she knew he was right.


    “Exactly!” Emma interjected. “Elissa, let me take you home. I promised your mother I’d make sure you got home safely.”


    “Fine!” Time was pressing, and Elissa reluctantly nodded, hurrying toward the door. “Let’s go then!”


    “Alright.” Emma cast a nce at Ernest before linking arms with Elissa and moving briskly outside.


    Ernest followed at a distance, watching them get into the car and drive away.


    On the road, Emma kept her hands steady on the wheel, asionally ncing at Elissa through the rearview mirror. She smiled faintly. “Elissa, I’m sorry about today. I didn’t think things through.”


    Elissa looked at her but didn’t respond. Instead, she urged, “Can you drive faster?”


    Emma blinked, startled, but then quickly nodded. “Oh, of course!”


    With determination, she pressed the pedal, and the car surged forward.


    What should have been a three-minute drive vanished in an instant. As soon as the car halted, Elissa was already unbuckling her seatbelt. “Thank you. I’ll be going now!”


    “Hey! Slow down!” Emma called out, concerncing her voice. “No need to rush!”


    But the car hadn’t fully stopped before Elissa had flung open the door and hurried inside the manor.


    Emma watched her disappear behind the gates, frowning.


    Had she upset Elissa?


    With a sigh, she turned the wheel and drove back the way she hade.


    The doorbell rang, and Ernest opened the door to find Emma standing there. “You…” he began, caught off guard. “Did you manage to drop Elissa off?”


    “Yes,” Emma said, her expression tinged with irritation. “Mr. Flynn, don’t you think you owe me an exnation? I need to know… what’s going on with you and Elissa?”


    She exhaled, her tone sharp. “I need to know if I’ve been helping in the wrong way.”


    An exnation wasn’t difficult for him. He had no secrets to keep.


    Ernest’s voice remained calm and steady. “She’s my wife.”


    “Okay…” Emma nodded absentmindedly at first, but then her eyes widened as the meaning of his words sank in. “Wait… you mean… Elissa is your wife?”


    “Yes,” he confirmed, then borated. “We aren’t officially recognized as married in Srixby. Theirw only acknowledges a legal marriage certificate. But in Ontmond,monw marriage is recognized.”


    He paused, letting the words sink in. “We are husband and wife in fact.”


    “What?” Her eyes blinked in soft disbelief.


    The rumors she’d heard about Elissa suddenly clicked into ce. Ernest was Elissa’s man in Srixby.


    “So your trip to Ontmond…” Emma asked slowly. “You said it was personal. You’re here… because of Elissa?”


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