?Chapter 3133:


    Even after all this time, Ernest was impossible to read. He wore the same unreadable expression, so Savannah had no idea what he really thought.


    Savannah let out a sigh and decided to ask directly, “Have you thought more about what I mentioned before? Don’t you think you’ll start to tire of it over time?”


    There it was again—that same question,ing back once more.


    Ernest paused, genuinely considering her words, but he still looked a bit uncertain. “Honestly, Mrs. Brown, I don’t think there’s anything that would bother me about it.”


    Savannah’s eyebrows rose in surprise.


    Ernest continued, “Medically speaking, doctors said Elissa’s brain injury had slowed her down, and sometimes she doesn’t respond quickly. But that doesn’t change how I feel.” Ernest’s lips tugged into a thoughtful frown. “She’s just a little slower than most, that’s all. Still, she manages her daily routines on her own and has no trouble talking with people.”


    The truth was, when they spent time together, Ernest barely noticed anything was off.


    That touch of slowness came across more as innocence than a real handicap.


    Ernest added, “She doesn’t need topete or argue with anyone. All she really needs is a peaceful, happy life—that’s enough.”


    As far as Ernest was concerned, none of this changed a thing about how he felt.


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    Savannah sat quietly, took her time studying his face, then nodded in understanding. “I get it now.”


    Just then, the door to the exam room swung open. Elissa came out with the nurse, already dressed.


    “Elissa.” Ernest rushed over at once, reaching out to gently touch her forehead. As expected, a fineyer of sweat had formed there.


    “Feeling worn out?”


    “Yeah.” Elissa gave a small nod. “A little tired.”


    All that dressing and undressing for tests had left her exhausted.


    She’d let her hair at the temples grow out a little.


    Ernest reached up and tugged at his cor. There, clipped to his cor, were two hairpins.


    He carefully removed the pins and tucked Elissa’s hair neatly behind her ears, one on each side.


    Elissa blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, these are—?”


    “Recognize them?” A gentle smile spread across Ernest’s face. “You made these for yourself, you know. That was ages ago.”


    They were the tortoiseshell hairpins.


    That night, the one when Locke was conceived, she’d left these hairpins with him, leaving a piece of herself behind.


    He’d taken care of them, never letting them out of his sight, all these years.


    Elissa let out a quietugh. “So that’s why they felt so familiar when I saw them.”


    “Exactly.” With a gentle smile, Ernest said, “You can lean on me.”


    He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, letting her rest against his side. As he nced down, he spotted the tiny needle marks in the bend of her elbow. His eyebrows knit together. “Did they have to take blood?”


    “Yeah. They took several tubes.”


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