Chapter 32

“I told you guys I’d be late and to hit the hay without me, right? Why are you still up? Where’s Evan?”

Elliot replied, “We just wanted to see Mommy as soon as we could, so we waited up. Evan’s in the bathroom. Let’s head upstairs, Mommy.”

“Alright, alright.”

The trio made their way back to their place, and as soon as they stepped in, Emmett burst into tears.

It wasn’t clear downstairs, but now, in the light, the slap mark on Elysia’s cheek was unmistakable, and Emmett was heartbroken.

Elysia quickly scooped up her little man, comforting him, “Mommy’s fine, bud. Just bumped it, no biggie.”

Emmett clung to Elysia’s neck, sobbing softly, shaking with each cry – it was enough to break your heart.

Elliot brought over a cold pack to soothe Elysia’s cheek.

Elysia said nothing, and the boys were wise enough not to press.

After calming Emmett down, Elysia went to freshen up. No sooner had she entered the bathroom, Evan was back.

“Where’s Mommy?”

“In the bathroom.”

Elliot dragged Evan to their room and closed the door, speaking in hushed tones, “What the heck happened?”

Evan was seething. “I’m not sure of all the details. I was too far away from Mommy to hear them. Some chick in sunglasses and a face mask, flanked by bodyguards, cornered Mommy and hit her. Didn’t you ask Mommy what went down?”

“She said she just accidentally bumped it, and she didn’t want to talk about it, so we didn’t push.”

“I already gave them a piece of my mind. Taught them a lesson.”

Elliot frowned. “I’ve got this nagging feeling this city’s got it in for Mommy. Ever since we got here, she’s never been truly happy. We need to figure out what brought Mommy here and then get her the heck out.”

“But what if Mommy won’t spill? What then?”

10:24 Ompor 32.

“We’ll dig around on our own. Keep an eye on Mommy when she’s out. We can’t let her get hurt again.

“Got it. Mommy’s safety is my job! Oh, and Mommy was bartending tonight.”

Emmett said with teary eyes, “Mommy must be trying to make ends meet for us. I saw her looking for part-time jobs earlier.”

The mention of money left Elliot feeling both helpless and pained. He was five years old, for crying out loud. If he told Mommy about the gazillions he had stashed in the bank, she’d probably faint – and who knows if she’d wake up again.

Sigh…

“I’ll find another way to slip Mommy some cash.”

Meanwhile, Elysia stood under the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her, lost in thought.

The woman who’d made such a scene today probably didn’t mistake her identity. But she’d only been in Jindale City for two days who could she have possibly enticed?

Tarquin, Tarquin…

Maybe it was about Tarquin?

Elysia’s eyes snapped open.

She got it. That woman must be Tarquin’s girlfriend!

She had been seeking Tarquin to finalize their divorce, and that woman mistook her for trying to seduce him back!

What a misunderstanding.

Although once upon a time, she genuinely wanted a life with Tarquin, after the incident, she never entertained the thought again. She felt tainted and unworthy of him and never longed for a reunion.

Otherwise, when she found out they were still married, she’d be over the moon instead of shocked to her core, and she wouldn’t have come to Jindale City to initiate the divorce talk.

Elysia exhaled deeply, her face still aching with the injustice of it all.

The divorce was still up in the air, and now she was mistaken for a home–wrecker. What a headache.