Chapter 18

Lowell had been riding shotgun with Tarquin for years and had a pretty good bead on the guy. He knew the score about Tarquin’s reluctance to sign the divorce papers.

So, when Tarquin brushed off the suggestion of a video call with his estranged wife, Lowell didn’t bat an eyelid. Instead, he just threw out a casual suggestion, “Maybe a video call would convince her more?

I’m not sure that Mrs. Bradford will believe the words sent.”

“No need,” Tarquin barked back with a scoff.

Why to waste his breath on someone who’s nothing but a footnote?

So that was Tarquin’s outright refusal.

After all, he was oblivious to the fact that the woman was the very one he’d been searching for high and low.

“And another thing, stop calling her ‘Mrs. Bradford‘. There’s only one lady who deserves that title.

Anyone else doesn’t even come close.” Tarquin added.

Lowell bit his tongue. He knew the “lady Tarquin was talking about was none other than Elijah’s biological mother.

“Got e replied.

Meanwhile, Elysia was gobsmacked at Tarquin’s response. Not knowing when he’d return meant not knowing when she could get a divorce..

How was she supposed to move on with her kids in tow?

Elysia was far from throwing in the towel, though. She tried reaching out to Tarquin a few more times, but to no avail. Dejected, she left the Royal Community with a heavy heart, her spirit so low.

Without being able to cut ties, she couldn’t sort out the kids‘ school registration, and without that, their education was as stuck as a truck in mud.

Plus, no divorce meant no stable job for her, and her bank account was running on fumes.

And then there was that Elliot and Evan’s lookalike and the mountain of debt he’d saddled her with…

The more Elysia stewed on her problems, the more her head spun. Seeking a moment of solace, she plopped down under a canopy of trees, not wanting to bring her cloud of gloom home to her kids.

As she sat there, wrestling with her next move, a tot, no more than four or five, bolted across the street like a bat out of hell and whizzed straight into oncoming traffic.

Hell broke loose as cars screeched, horns blared, and the air was filled with a cacophony of shouts and screams.

The kid’s parents dashed into the fray, trying to scoop up their wild offspring, who was having none of it.

The little tyke was throwing a fit and howling at onlookers and passersby. While he was howling, he was also taking swings at a nearby sedan.

After giving the car a piece of his mind, he turned on himself, smacking his own face and scratching like he was trying to claw away invisible ants.

His dad finally managed to wrangle him up, but the kid was all fists and teeth and growling like an animal.

Elysia watched this and didn’t feel right. She darted over.

The kid had wrenched away from his father, who was so angry and furious. The father’s face flushed red with rage and he raised his palm to smack the son.

“Cool it, guys. Don’t do something you’ll regret.” Elysia said as she looked toward the boy. She squatted down to eye level with the boy and opened her arms in a gesture of peace, “Hey there, champ. No need to be scared. Come to me. I’ll keep you safe.”

The boy eyed her warily.

ot gonna hurt you, kiddo. Come on over,” Elysia coaxed with a smile.

After a tense stare–down, the boy suddenly stooped, scooped up a rock, and hurled it at her.

Elysia failed to dodge. The rock struck her forehead and sent a sharp jolt of pain through her. The boy’s mother was guilty at the scene. Her tears were welling up as she rushed over, “I’m so sorry, ma’am. My boy has bipolar disorder, and he’s having an episode. We’re at our wit’s end…”

“It’s okay. What’s his name?” Elysia asked, brushing off the hurt.

“Corbin Denton. Just call him Corbin.”

Elysia nodded, “You’re scaring him more. Give me some space. I’ll calm him down.”

The Dentons gazed at Elysia as if they were stunned, and eventually, they stepped back, worn out and desperate for a miracle.