?Chapter 3151:


    In the front yard of the estate, under a canopy of lush green branches, sunlight drifted through the leaves in delicate, shimmering patches.


    At the sound of the voice, Elissa lifted her head, instantly recognizing the little boy rushing toward her as the child from the photographs she’d seen.


    “Locke!” Elissa lowered herself and spread her arms in a weing embrace.


    “Mommy!” Locke hurled himself into her arms, overflowing with happiness, his little arms circling her neck as he cried out again and again, “Mommy! Mommy!”


    Elissa responded to each eager cry with patient tenderness, returning every “Mommy” with a gentle, soothing “Baby.”


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    Locke nestled his head against her shoulder, his tiny voice trembling on the edge of tears. “Mommy’s back,” he whispered.


    “Yes,” Elissa murmured, nodding softly. “Mommy’s here.”


    Locke nuzzled closer—and then, without warning, broke into tears, weeping freely.


    Ernest watched with a faint frown; of course he was crying—Locke was still just a child. No matter how sensible or brave, little hearts had their limits.


    “Locke.” Elissa’s voice wavered as she cupped his damp cheeks, wiping away his tears, her own eyes reddening. “Don’t cry, my baby.”


    “Mommy…” he sobbed, unable to stop once the dam had broken. Through shimmering eyes he choked out, “Are you going away again?”


    A child his age couldn’t yet grasp adultplications; all he understood was that Mommy had been gone for so very long—long enough to make him fear she might never return.


    “No, I’m not leaving again.” Elissa had held herself steady until that moment, but his question shattered her resolve. Tears slipped free as she whispered, “I’m staying right here—with you.”


    “Really? That’s great!” Locke’s face lit up instantly, his whole expression glowing as he nodded with enthusiastic relief. He flung his arms around her again, clinging to her with the fierce grip of someone terrified she might vanish.


    Inside the house, once N and Ethan were settled, Hadley and Eric made their way downstairs.


    “Daddy! Mommy!” Joy called out as she sprinted toward her parents in excitement.


    Eric crouched and lifted her into his arms. “Why are you out here alone? Where’s Locke?”


    “Outside!” Joy said brightly, pointing toward the door. “Uncle Ernest and Aunt Elissa are here!”


    “Oh? Then let’s go greet them.”


    As they stepped outside, Locke walked in, holding tightly to Elissa’s hand, with Ernest trailing just behind them.


    “Hey, Ernest,” Hadley greeted warmly before moving forward, her gaze shifting to Elissa.


    Her eyes grew noticeably red before she could say another word, but a soft smile still lifted her lips. “Elissa,” she whispered, “wee home.”


    Elissa paused, taking a moment to study the woman before her—beautiful in a gentle, unassuming way, without a hint of harshness.


    Ernest had already exined everything to her back in Ontmond.


    Elissa knew she was looking at Hadley—Ernest’s sister, and once, her closest friend.


    Still, when she finally spoke, her voice carried a thread of uncertainty. “Hadley?”


    “Mm-hmm.” Hadley nodded with a glowing smile, giving Elissa’s hand a warm squeeze. “It’s me.”


    Eric, Joy perched on his hip, grinned broadly. “Hi, Elissa. I’m Eric.”


    “Oh…” Elissa blinked, a bit thrown by his effortless friendliness, before offering a shy, polite smile. “Nice to meet you.”


    Eric nced down at his daughter. “Joy?”


    Quick as ever, Joy chirped, “Hi, Aunt Elissa! I’m Joy!”


    “What a lovely girl you are!” Elissa said with a warm, genuine smile.


    In just a few minutes, she felt so weed.


    “Let’s not keep standing out here,” Hadley said once the greetings settled. “Ernest, Elissa—you must be drained from the journey. Go rest first.”


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