?Chapter 3114:


    What could she possibly do? He waspletely absent from her memory. Did that make her a terrible mother?


    Ernest sighed and retrieved his phone from his pocket. Opening the photo album, he showed her a picture of Locke. “This is Locke. He takes after you.”


    Elissa held the phone with trembling hands, her fingertips brushing lightly over her son’s image.


    Indeed, he bore a striking resemnce to her. It was even more so when he smiled.


    “Locke…” she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears.


    Ernest let out a soft sigh. “I wanted to tell you earlier, but you couldn’t even remember me. I feared you wouldn’t be able to handle so much at once.”


    ??d??i?????????? ????????ls ??n ????l??о????l??.??o??


    As he spoke, he flipped through the album. Amid the individual photos of Locke, there were countless pictures of them together—the mother and son, their smiles perfectly in sync, as if carved from the same mold. Their connection was undeniable; it didn’t take a DNA test to prove the bond they shared.


    “You two share a wonderful bond. Locke is very attached to you, though a little wary of me.”


    Elissa nodded silently, her gaze fixed on Locke’s photos.


    “Locke…” she murmured again, then looked up at Ernest, smiling through tears. “His eyes are just like Ethan’s!” she eximed.


    Ernest paused for a moment, then smiled softly. “Really?”


    “Exactly!” Elissa said, gesturing at Ethan. “Those big, double-lidded eyes… just like him.”


    Ernest chuckled quietly. “See? I told you so. Brothers naturally bear a resemnce to one another.”


    He cast a quiet nce at the sleeping Ethan.


    During Elissa’s pregnancy with Ethan, his heart had been full of eager anticipation. The early months of pregnancy were delicate, demanding constant care to safeguard Elissa’s health. Though it wasn’t the daughter he had wished for, his love for Ethan was no less profound.


    At that instant, Ernest felt a swirl of conflicting emotions. By the time he found Locke, the boy was already three, and he had missed seeing him as a baby. Now, Locke’s younger brother was here—a delicate little baby resting peacefully in the crib.


    But then… Ernest’s smile vanished, reced by a furrowed brow. His eyes flicked to the oxygen tank nearby. He had seen it the moment he entered, yet he hadn’t asked—hadn’t dared to ask.


    But he couldn’t turn away from it, not anymore.


    “This…” With a tilt of his chin toward the oxygen tank, Ernest asked gently, “Is Ethan… all right?”


    Elissa held the phone, pressing it gently to her chest. “Ethan’s lungs are quite weak.”


    At birth, he hadn’t cried at all. Without a cry, there was no breath.


    Although the doctors had managed to bring him back, his overall health remained fragile. Thus, he stayed in the hospital, tended to around the clock by doctors and nurses.


    At first, he faced frequentplications, but with consistent care over time, he gradually improved.


    “Yet he’s far from fully recovered…” Elissa struggled with the medical terms, but she did her best, each word measured and clear.


    Remembering her mother’s ns, she turned to Ernest and said, “Ethan needs time to recover. Ontmond’s climate isn’t suitable. Mom wants us to move to Prineville.”


    Prineville? That coastal city’s weather was mild throughout the year; it did seem like a good ce for baby Ethan. Yet…


    Ernest took Elissa’s hand gently. “There’s no need to worry now. Srixby’s climate is suitable for Ethan as well.”


    And after all, Srixby was where both he and Locke were. With Elissa and Ethan by their side, their family would finally beplete.


    Elissa understood immediately—he wanted to take her to Srixby.


    “But…” Elissa said, her brow furrowing in concern.


    Savannah wouldn’t approve.


    “There’s no need to worry,” Ernest said, squeezing her hand gently. “I’ll handle talking to your mother.”


    Fingers intertwined, they stepped out of the nursery together. The nanny and nurse came right back in to tend to Ethan.


    Neville was waiting downstairs with his wife. He and Savannah were sitting together on the sofa.


    Noticing Ernest and Elissaing, Savannah called out to Elissa, “It’ste—why don’t you go rest?”


    Elissa remained silent.


    “Elissa.” Before she could answer, Ernest gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Listen to what your mother says. You need your rest.”


    .


    .


    .