Chapter 108

“What’s your reason for coming back to Jindale City this time?”

“Reason? What reason?” Panic surged through Elysia, her words jumbled as she struggled to find an answer.

The man repeated his question with visible impatience, “You’ve been away from Jindale City for years.

Why the sudden return? Think carefully before you speak! Lie to me, and your son pays the price!”

“I–I-… Oh, that’s right, I came back to get my kids registered. They don’t have social security numbers yet, and they need one to enroll in school and get health insurance.”

“And your frequent appearances around some man, what’s the motive there?”

“Man? What man?” Elysia’s thoughts raced, until it clicked, “Are you talking about Elijah’s father?”

“Mm–hmm.”

Tears threatened to spill from Elysia’s eyes. Not him again!

“I never intended to get close to him. I’ve kept my distance all along. If it wasn’t for my son Evan scratching his car the day we got back, I wouldn’t even know he existed! I don’t know why he suspects me of deliberately approaching him. I don’t know why you’re all suspicious of me, but I swear I’m not lying! If I lie, may I never know peace! I have no clue who he is! To this day, all I know is he’s Elijah’s father, I don’t even know his name… oh my god…”

Sobs wracked Elysia’s body.

Meanwhile, Lowell couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity. He turned to Tarquin and said, “Tarquin, she doesn’t seem to be acting. There might be some misunderstanding here.”

Tarquin frowned, pressing on. “Are you sure? If you dare to lie, your son is as good as dead!”

“I’m sure! I’m positive! I haven’t lied! Please, don’t hurt him, he’s only five. I swear I don’t know that man. My return wasn’t about him; it was for my children’s registration!”

She was chasing after Tarquin for a divorce, just to sever ties and settle her children’s status.

That was her only goal!

Regardless of whether Elijah’s father was the man from her past, she never intended to confront him, seek revenge or demand child support. She had resented him, yes, but once the children were born, she let go of the grudge.

The children’s presence had healed her bitterness and resentment. All she wanted was a normal life with her kids…

“I’m just a regular single mom, trying to live an ordinary life with my children! I haven’t wronged anyone, haven’t crossed anyone. Why am I always under suspicion? If you refuse to believe anything I say, if in your eyes I’m nothing but a bad woman, then I beg you, don’t harm my son. If you have a problem with me, take it out on me, but let my son go. He’s only five. He’s innocent! Oh god…”

The love Elysia had for Emmett was beyond the typical motherly affection. She loved Elliot and Evan just as much, but for Emmett, her love was mixed with pity and tenderness. She felt sorry for him…

Tarquin watched the nearly broken woman on the surveillance screen, his brows knotted. Clutching her phone, she had cried herself into a mess, her slender frame shaking and seeming on the verge of collapse.

Whether she was lying was clear to him.

Her concern for her son was genuine; she wouldn’t dare lie, which meant she hadn’t been trying to get close to him after all.