?Chapter 3154:


    “Mommy’s right here,” Elissa whispered, her heart cracking open as she held him tighter. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. I promise.”


    Ernest gave instructions to the nanny and nurse to keep an eye on Ethan, and then guided Elissa and Locke down the hallway toward their room.


    It wasn’t the same room Ernest had used before—that had been a bachelor’s space. This was different. This was theirs.


    Hadley had personally overseen getting the master bedroom ready for them.


    The space was massivepared to Ernest’s old room, and infinitely warmer. Gone was all that dark gray minimalism—this room felt weing, elegant, lived-in.


    A walk-in closet, a dedicated vanity area, a parlor with actual furniture—everything spoke offort and permanence.


    Once inside, Ernest carefully lifted the sleeping Locke from Elissa’s arms and ced him in the center of the enormous bed.


    Elissa tucked the nket around him, her gaze locked on his peaceful face. She couldn’t make herself look away.


    Ernest stood back and watched in silence. The connection between mother and child was something almost magical—it didn’t require years or effort. It just existed, instant and undeniable.


    He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you like the room?” he asked softly.


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    “Yeah.” Elissa finally tore her eyes away from Locke, taking in the space around them. “I do. God, your house is massive.”


    Ernest’s eyebrow lifted slightly, correcting her. “Our house.”


    “Oh, right.” A quietugh escaped Elissa, heat rising in her cheeks.


    “You must be exhausted.” Ernest took her hand and pulled her gently to her feet. “Come on. Take a shower, and then we’ll get some sleep too.”


    For the next several days, Elissa and N spent most of their time fighting off jetg and adjusting to the time difference. Ethan was too young to be affected—babies didn’t care what time zone they were in.


    Ernest didn’t get that luxury. He’d been gone too long—Eric had held things down while he was away, but now that he was back, there was no excuse for staying home. After one day of rest, he was already back at the office.


    Within a few days, everyone had found their rhythm again.


    That morning, Hadley brought her family over to the main house for breakfast.


    N was still asleep, of course. She never surfaced before ten.


    Both brothers sat down with their families around the long dining table.


    Midway through the meal, Elissa took a bite of aspic, made a face, and slid the dish across to Ernest. “Don’t like it. You take it.”


    “Fine by me.” Ernest pulled the te toward himself without hesitation.


    Eric caught the exchange from across the table, his mouth twitching with amusement. “Look at you, all domesticated now.”


    Ernest was actually eating Elissa’s leftovers—who would’ve thought?


    Hadley shot her husband a withering look. “Do you ever stop talking long enough to actually chew your food?” Seriously, the man never shut up.


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