chapter319

Elliot’s voice was soft, carrying a maturity that anchored the room. "Mom, you’re worried because you think if he sees how much we resemble Elijah, he’ll start asking questions we aren’t ready to answer, right?"

To keep his mother from spiraling further, Elliot had immediately identified the core of her fear. Elysia shifted uncomfortably, torn between her desire to be honest with her children and the sheer weight of the truth she had carried for years.

Before she could struggle for a response, Elliot chimed in again, a spark of brilliance in his eyes. "Actually, there’s an easy fix. Has Mom forgotten about Emmett’s special talent?"

Elysia turned to Emmett, her eyes widening as realization dawned on her. "You mean... we let Emmett work his magic?"

"Exactly!" Elliot nodded firmly.

Elysia quickly wiped away her tears, a flicker of hope returning to her face. "Can we really pull this off? Against someone as sharp as Tarquin?"

"Trust me," Elliot said, "and more importantly, trust Emmett."

Emmett, holding his mother’s hand, offered a confident, gap-toothed grin. "Mommy, I can do it. I won't let him see anything you don't want him to see."

Elijah, still standing in as Evan, wanted to offer his own reassurance, but found himself at a loss for words. Instead, he gave her a look of fierce, unwavering determination. If his mother didn't want his father to know the truth yet, he would do everything in his power to protect that wish. He couldn't bear to see her in pain any longer.

Seeing her children's resolve, a wave of calm finally washed over Elysia. She pulled them into a tight, lingering hug. "It’s all up to you three tonight."

"Don’t worry, Mom. We’ve got this!" the boys declared in unison.

After a quick briefing on what to say—and more importantly, what not to say—Elysia sent them to prepare. "Go quickly. Mr. Lowell will be here any second."

Minutes later, the doorbell rang.

When Elysia led the children out, each boy was wearing a carefully fitted mask. It was a simple precaution that kept Lowell from seeing their features clearly, though his gaze lingered a moment too long on Elliot and the boy he knew as "Evan." There was something about their eyes—a familiar spark he couldn't quite place.

"This child..." Lowell began, his voice trailing off.

"This is my son, Evan," Elysia interrupted sharply, her protective instincts on high alert. "What about him?"

Lowell, sensing her agitation, offered a gentle smile. "He just... he reminds me of Elijah. There's a certain look in his eyes."

"He is not Elijah!" Elysia insisted, her mind too preoccupied with the coming confrontation to notice the irony. "He is my son."

"I understand," Lowell replied softly. He truly had no reason to suspect that the Bradford legacy extended beyond the one boy he knew. He shifted the subject, trying to ease the tension. "Don't be nervous, Ms. Thorne. I’m just taking them to have a conversation. No harm will come to them."

"I'm coming with them," Elysia stated, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Lowell hesitated. "Tarquin was very specific about—"

"I’ll stay downstairs," she cut him off. "But I will not let them enter that house alone if I’m forced to stay behind. We go together, or we don't go at all."

"Alright," Lowell sighed. "Let's go."

The drive was quiet. Aside from Elliot, who remained stoic, the trio was visibly anxious. Emmett and Elysia shared a naturally timid streak, while Elijah worried that his father might see through his disguise and cause his mother more grief.

Upon arrival, Elysia pulled the boys aside for one last hushed reminder: Stay together. Remember the plan.

As Lowell led the masked children into the grand estate, Elysia was left standing in the shadows of the driveway, her heart hammering against her ribs. The silence of the night felt heavy, pregnant with the secrets she was trying so desperately to keep.

Suddenly, a voice whispered her name from behind.

Chills raced down her spine. She spun around, but the darkness revealed nothing but the swaying shadows of the trees. Confused and trembling, she turned back toward the house, only to hear the whisper again—clearer this time, vibrating with a familiarity that sent a mix of fear and intense curiosity through her heart.

Elysia turned back once more, her eyes searching the gloom, determined to face whatever mystery was calling to her in the dead of night.