Chapter 37

The following morning, Elysia woke up with the first light of dawn, blissfully unaware that she had already caught someone’s attention.

Barely opening her eyes, she reached for her phone and called the Royal Community to check if Tarquin had returned. When she got a negative response, a headache started to form.

“When will this marriage ever end?” she thought, feeling hopeless and frustrated.

With a deep sigh, Elysia lay back on her bed and began scrolling through her phone, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tarquin’s whereabouts. Instead, her feed was filled with the Denton family’s missing person notice.

Unable to find her, the Denton family had reluctantly turned to the internet to issue an appeal. Every major media outlet and TV channel broadcasted their plea as if desperate to ensure she would see it.

Fortunately, the notice didn’t include a photo or her name, just a concise recount of the previous day’s events. If she saw it, she would know they were searching for her.

Elysia sat up, staring at the notice, lost in thought. She had no real connection to the Denton family and didn’t want to get involved, She had come back to divorce Tarquin and had no desire to entangle herself with others.

But then she thought of the troubled child, and a wave of concern washed over her.

Mental illness was a frightening thing. If it were just the silence or the outbursts, it would be manageable, but the fear of self–harm loomed large. She knew all too well that many children with severe mental illness ended up taking their own lives.

During her five years living in the countryside, with no social distractions, she had ample time to study.

Knowing her children would grow up in a single–parent family, she immersed herself in books on child education and psychology. The only thing she lacked in the field of special education was a certificate;

her capabilities were undeniable.

After some thought, Elysia decided to make a trip to the hospital. She had children of her own and couldn’t bear to stand by without helping it could be seen as building good karma for her own children.

Before leaving, Elysia prepared breakfast for her little ones, and after a quick shower and leaving a note, she headed out the door. But as soon as she arrived at the hospital entrance, she bumped into Gage.

Remembering the previous night’s encounter, Elysia felt a twinge of guilt and tried to act as if she didn’t recognize him.

However, Gage blocked her path.

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Cash Thome. What a coincidence we meet again,” he said with a smug look.

At the sight of Elysia, Gage’s hormones seemed to go into overdrive, his gaze lingering on her with undisguised lewdness.

Elysia frowned and, trying to avoid trouble, replied politely, “I’m here to see a friend, and I’m in a hurry, so if you’ll excuse me…”

Elysia attempted to leave, but Gage wasn’t having it. “Come on, hanging out with me is way more fun than visiting friends. We didn’t get to finish what we started last night. Today, you owe me. Let’s go have some fun,” he said, reaching out to grab her.

Elysia’s patience snapped. “What do you think you’re doing? I don’t know you; stay away from me!” she exclaimed, trying to get away.

Gage signaled his bodyguards with a nod, and they quickly moved in, grabbing Elysia before she had a chance to call for help and forcefully escorting her to the car.

“We could’ve done this the nice way, but now you want to play tough with me, huh?” Gage muttered under his breath as he dialed his niece Nola’s number.

Nola was still in the hospital room when she heard that Elysia had shown up, and she was furious. In her mind, everything that had happened the injuries she sustained, Tarquin disassociating himself from her, and even the withdrawn investment of fifty million – all Elysia’s fault!