?Chapter 3097:


    “Elissa?” Ernest looked at Elissa with a mix of hurt and worry. She stood frozen in ce, lost and fragile, her expression stripped of understanding.


    He softened his voice. “Don’t be scared. You don’t have to worry. Nothing like that will happen—”


    “How can you say that?” Savannah cut in sharply. “Stop filling her head with lies.”


    She stepped forward, her voice trembling with anger. “You can disappear whenever gossip turns against you. You can walk away whenever you choose. But what about my daughter? Who protects her from the world when you get tired?”


    Tears had reddened her eyes; grief made her voice crack. She turned toward Elissa. “Elissa, you may not see these dangers yet. But I’m your mother. I have to think ahead for you.”


    ?????? ???????? ??eа???????? ??xpеr??е???e ???? ga????????el??.??????


    Elissa didn’t react. Her eyes stayed unfocused, staring through the room instead of at it.


    “Elissa?”


    “Elissa?”


    Silence pressed against all of them. Every gaze fixed on her still face.


    Then her eyelids drooped. Her body ckened. She crumpled toward the floor.


    “Elissa!” Ernest lunged forward to catch her.


    Savannah shoved him aside. “Move! Don’t touch her! You are not allowed toy a hand on my daughter!”


    Before Elissa hit the floor, Neville caught her in his arms. “Elissa? Can you hear me?”


    She didn’t respond. Her head rested limply against his shoulder.


    “Savannah!” Neville gathered Elissa in his arms and carried her up the stairs. “I’m taking her to her room. Call the doctor.”


    “Alright.” Savannah immediately reached for the phone. “Hello. This is the Brown residence…”


    When she hung up, she turned on Ernest with a re sharp enough to cut. “Why are you still standing here?”


    “I want to—”


    “Isn’t this enough?” Savannah’s voice trembled with the weight in her chest. “I’ve never raised my voice at her since she came home. And now look at what’s happened. All because of you.”


    She understood all too well how her own words could wound her daughter and leave her ashamed. But she also knew she had to do this.


    She lifted a hand and pointed toward the door. “Get out. Right now. And don’te back. Even if you try, the gates won’t open for you.”


    By the time the doctor left, Elissa had already opened her eyes again.


    Her face looked drained of color, her expression dull with exhaustion.


    “Elissa.” Savannah sat beside the bed and held her daughter’s hand. The sharp edge she had shown downstairs was gone; in its ce was a quiet, gentle worry. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I spoke too harshly. I only wanted you to understand the world as it is.”


    Elissa lowered her gaze, saying nothing.


    “Elissa,” Savannah continued with a weary sigh. “People can be unpredictable. Men even more so. You can’t ce all your trust in someone who may not stay. When ites to things like this, you have to listen to me and not act on impulse.”


    She patted Elissa’s hand with a soft rhythm. “You’re tired. I won’t keep you any longer. Rest for now.”


    Savannah stood and left quietly. She headed straight to the study.


    Neville looked up as she entered. “Did you speak to her?”


    “Yes.” Savannah lowered her head. “But I don’t know if she heard a word I said.”


    “What do you want to do?” he asked.


    .


    .


    .