?Chapter 1303:

    Even by mid-morning, the daylight hadn’t broken through. Soon enough, a soft drizzle began to fall and continued steadily throughout the day.

    At the Flynn Mansion, warm light filled the room, apanied by the quiet patter of rain against the windows. In the living room, Locke sat upright, cheeks puffed out with focus as he recited the day’s lesson in his gentle, melodic voice.

    “Excellent job,” Elissa praised, her smile full of warmth as she gave his round cheek a gentle pat. “You’re really sharp today. That’s everything for your lesson.”

    She nced at the clock. They had finished about twenty minutes earlier than usual.

    There was still time before she needed to leave.

    “So, what would you like to do now?” she asked.

    Locke tilted his head thoughtfully. “Can we y hide and seek?”

    “Hide and seek?” Elissa considered it briefly, then nodded. “Alright.” Since Locke was still young, Ernest had clearly instructed that he wasn’t to be overburdened. When his homework was all done and there was still free time, ying with him was perfectly eptable. “We need to decide who’s going to hide.”

    “Me!” Locke raised his hand excitedly. “I’ll hide and you have toe find me, okay?”

    “Okay,” she agreed.

    Locke ran off for a moment and came back holding a neatly folded silk scarf. It was clearly a man’s.

    “Please crouch down so I can tie this over your eyes,” he said, holding it up to her.

    “Alright.” Elissa chuckled, bending down to let him wrap it around her.

    As the fabric covered her eyes, a familiar scent reached her nose.

    She instantly recognized it. This was Ernest’s.

    This must be one of his scarves. Even blindfolded, she felt surrounded by the scent that reminded her of him. It was calm, understated, and carried the same quiet strength he always had.

    She still didn’t understand why he treated her with such care…

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    “I’ve hidden already!” Locke suddenly called out. “Come find me now!”

    “Okay.”

    With her eyes still covered, Elissa stood and began to feel her way around the room, careful with every step.

    She whispered softly as she moved, “Where could Locke be hiding?

    This isn’t him… and this isn’t either…”

    “Haha…” A burst ofughter bubbled up from somewhere nearby. “I’m here!”

    “Where?”

    Their yful voices echoed through therge, open room, filling it with cheerfulughter.

    At this time, the house was unusually quiet.

    N had been admitted to the hospital for treatment and wasn’t around. The servants, without any immediate tasks assigned to them, had all gone about their duties elsewhere.

    At the front door, Ernest stepped inside, changing his shoes while holding a phone to his ear. His voice was calm,posed as usual. “Yes, I understand. That’s enough for now. Let’s revisit it tomorrow.” As he ended the call and stepped into the living room, his eyesnded on an unusual sight.

    Elissa stood in the center of the room, blindfolded with a silk scarf, slowly moving her arms in front of her as she navigated the space.

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