?Chapter 3074:


    Ernest spent the night tossing and turning, sleep stubbornly eluding him.


    By morning, he was already awake before six.


    The very first thing he did was reach for his phone and fire off another message to Elissa.


    “Elissa, please—text me back! Just a dot… an emoji… anything at all. Please—just let me know you’re okay.”


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    He decided to let go of whatever she wasn’t ready to tell him.


    He just wanted to be sure that she was okay.


    But still—no reply.


    With a sigh, Ernest changed into his training gear and headed out for a run.


    He pushed himself farther than usual, his mind drifting back to the bakery he had mentioned to Elissa the day before. He remembered visiting it years ago on a business trip and wasn’t even sure it still stood.


    Earbuds in, soft instrumental music washed over him. Halfway through his route, he became aware of faint footsteps behind him.


    Ernest frowned, came to a sudden halt, and swung his head around.


    Was someone trailing him?


    He scanned his surroundings. There were only a few early joggers about—nothing out of the ordinary.


    Nothing seemed threatening.


    Maybe it was only his imagination.


    After all, it was a different country where not many knew him.


    Besides, Gifford was already behind bars.


    Ernest shook his head, turned back, and resumed running.


    By the time he returned home, he was soaked in sweat.


    He went straight upstairs to take a shower.


    Before stepping in, he picked up his phone and typed another message to Elissa.


    “Elissa… I’m genuinely worried about you. Please… just send me something—anything.”


    He waited a beat after sending it—still nothing.


    Inside the hospital, Elissa lingered by the sink, phone in hand, her eyes skimming Ernest’s messages.


    A frown creased her brow as her thumb hovered indecisively above the screen.


    “Elissa?” A knock sounded on the bathroom door, and Savannah’s voice called through. “Are you finished in there?”


    “Yeah, one second,” Elissa replied briskly, shutting the screen and tucking the phone into her pocket.


    She opened the door. “Mom,” she said.


    Savannah noticed the redness in her daughter’s eyes, and her face softened with concern. “Come on now. You need to eat something.”


    “Okay,” Elissa murmured.


    They settled at the dining table together.


    Savannah unwrapped the breakfast that her husband had brought. “Your dad’s swamped—he just rushed off to work.” She ced a cup of vegetable soup before Elissa. “Have some soup—it’s easier on your stomach.”


    “Thanks, Mom…” Elissa replied softly.


    “Silly girl,” Savannah said, smoothing her palm across Elissa’s cropped hair. “You don’t need to thank me for anything.”


    “Alright.”


    Elissa lifted the spoon and took a quiet sip.


    “No rush—take your time. Have a little more.”


    “Okay…” Elissa said, hesitant. Her hand hovered over the cup as she stirred the soup without really looking.


    She then nced up at Savannah. “Mom—did you truly not know?”


    “What do you mean?” Savannah asked, startled.


    She paused, met her daughter’s eyes, and slowly shook her head.


    “No, I didn’t. Back then I was dead set against you leaving Ontmond—we fought bitterly about it. I couldn’t stop you; you went anyway. And I…”


    The memory sat in Savannah like a sharp, persistent regret.


    “I was wrong, but I was so angry at the time.”


    For a long stretch after, mother and daughter spoke only rarely. Truthfully, Savannah had buried herself in work. She was teaching at the university while Elissa lived miles away in another country; there was little she could do.


    Sometimes she would imagine Elissa returning—crying, full of regret.


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