chapter317

In the silence of the room, the brothers were engaged in a high-stakes heart-to-heart over the phone.

Evan was consumed by guilt, his voice trembling as he asked about their mother. "Is Mom okay now? Is she still crying?"

"She stopped crying," Elliot replied, his voice calm but serious. "We've pieced it together. Tarquin told her she’s forbidden from seeing Elijah ever again. That’s why she was so devastated."

"But why? Why would he be so cruel?"

"Mom isn't entirely sure. She told Aunt Blossom that Tarquin suddenly accused her of trying to steal his son. Evan, think back—did you say anything to him that could have been misinterpreted?"

Evan blinked, the memory of the car ride flooding back. "On the way home, he wouldn't stop talking to me. I asked for silence, but he kept pushing. I got so frustrated that I... I yelled at him."

"What exactly did you say?"

"I told him Elysia was my mother and that I never wanted a father."

Elliot let out a long, heavy sigh. "Well, that explains it."

Evan’s heart sank. "Bro... did I mess up again?"

"It’s not a catastrophe, but your words indirectly caused Mom a lot of pain. Tarquin took it as a threat."

Evan panicked, his eyes welled with tears. "I didn't mean to! I hate seeing her upset. I love her more than anything—how could I ever want to make her cry?"

"I know you didn't mean it," Elliot said, his tone softening to encourage his brother. "Mom is safe for now, but you have to stop being so impulsive. Tarquin doesn't know about the three of us yet. When you said those things, you put a target on Mom. She’s hiding us to keep us safe, but now Tarquin is worried about his own custody. He’s already restricted her access to Elijah; we can’t let him take things any further."

"He wouldn't dare do anything worse!"

"We can’t take that chance. For now, we're lucky he hasn't discovered there are two more of us. While you're in that house, you have to act like Elijah. You have to try and get along with him."

"But I can't stand him!" Evan pouted.

"Then do it for Mom," Elliot urged. "Think of our plan. Do you want to see her cry again? Do you want to ruin everything we’ve worked for?"

"No!"

"Then listen to me. While you’re standing in for Elijah, find a way to bridge the gap with Tarquin."

Evan bit his lip, the internal struggle evident in his silence. Finally, he gave in. "I’ll try my best."

"That's my boy. You can do it, champ!"

Energized by his brother's confidence, Evan felt a small spark of hope. "Okay!" But then his voice dropped. "But bro... I already got into a physical fight with him tonight. Can we really still get along?"

"You fought him?"

Before Evan could explain, the door to the study burst open. Emmett rushed in, looking completely flustered. "Guys, we have a major problem! I just overheard a call. That man—Tarquin—wants to meet us. He’s already sent someone to pick us up!"

Evan gasped. "Meet us? Why? Did I slip up?"

Elliot’s brow furrowed. "Evan, tell me every word you said tonight. Every detail."

After Evan recounted the conversation, Elliot’s sharp mind instantly pinpointed the error. "Mom never shares her burdens with us. She only tells us the happy things." The use of the plural had been the fatal mistake.

"Tarquin is sharp," Elliot mused. "He picked up on the 'us.' He suspects Mom is planning to take Elijah away, and now he’s seeking us out to find out her real intentions. But..." A small, cunning smile touched Elliot’s lips. "Actually, we can use this. We can ease his worries and help Mom get back to Elijah."

"But won't he see who we are the moment we walk in?"

"Calm down," Elliot said, his eyes reflecting a maturity far beyond his years. "I’ll figure out a way to handle the meeting. Just wait for my signal."