Baylee remained calm. “Imagine the scandal if she died on your island. Besides, unlike her, we wouldn’t stand by and watch her be mauled by snakes.”

Ellie looked down, conflicted. While she didn’t wish death upon Carole, she wasn’t against her experiencing the fear of near-death.

“Ellie,” Baylee said gently, “what truly matters is that Carole completely disappears from your life.”

Baylee had considered all angles; under the current circumstances, this was the best solution. If Ellie really was Elsie, having Carole still around the Lambert family would be unbearable.

Ellie noticed Baylee’s furtive glances toward Marvin and suggested, “You two talk. We’ll wait in the parking lot.”

The private hospital was eerily quiet. Ellie and Kaiden walked hand in hand, the silence heavy between them.

“Kaiden, you haven’t said a word.” Ellie finally broke the quiet, her voice laced with concern. “Are you upset?”

“Hmm?” Kaiden stopped abruptly.

Ellie tilted her head up, her gaze meeting his.

“I see your lips pursed,” she noted softly.

Kaiden sighed, cupping her face and gently lifting her onto the curb.

“Ellie, I’m just feeling bad for my brother, not upset with you for handling Carole.”

Relief washed over Ellie. A small smile played on her lips as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Well, I haven’t done anything wrong, and you can’t possibly be mad at me, right?”

Kaiden’s fingers softly brushed against Ellie’s cheeks. After a brief pause, he chuckled, though the sound carried a hint of self-ridicule.

“I keep wondering, was my brother wrong about everything from the start, or did Carole end up losing her way?”

Ellie gazed at Kaiden, her eyes filled with compassion. “It’s hard for you too, right?”

Kaiden wasn’t ready to confess his feelings, yet his silence spoke volumes.

Ellie reflected on Kaiden’s journey so far. Neglected by his father, ignored by his mother, only his brother had offered him true kindness. And with his brother gone, Kaiden found himself ensnared by the Thorpe family’s constraints, burdened with heavy responsibilities.

Brisa, his birth mother, could perhaps be forgiven—but Carole?

The more Ellie pondered over it, the deeper her empathy for him grew. She opened her arms and pulled him into a hug.

“Kaiden, remember, you’re not alone. There are people who care about you and won’t let you down. I’m here for you too,” Ellie whispered gently.

Kaiden’s dark eyes flickered with emotion, then settled. He embraced her, resting his chin on her shoulder and nestling his face into her neck, inhaling her distinct fragrance. The woman he held was both kind and strong.

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