Chapter 4

Elise had no idea Regina had been sick.

On Sunday, she thought about giving Rowan and Regina a video call. She was their mother, after all. Even if there was no affection between them, she still had her parental responsibility and obligation to fulfill. When she called, Regina and Rowan were with Sabrina, who was trying on evening gowns.

Stephen would be discharged from the hospital in two days. By right, once he left the hospital, Calvin would have no reason to stay in Ravenport. He had to return to Halston to continue expanding the company.

But the moment the return to Halston was mentioned, both Regina and Rowan were clearly reluctant. They didn't want to see Elise so soon, but beyond that, they didn't want to be separated from Sabrina.

Seeing how downcast the kids looked, Sabrina smiled and ruffled their hair. "Let me guess why our little prince and princess aren't happy…"

She paused, then teased, "Is it because you're going back to Halston soon that you're so glum? I thought you would be really happy to see your mommy."

Just hearing that made Regina's eyes turn red. She pouted and muttered, "What's so great about seeing Mommy? We don't want to be separated from you, Sabrina."

Rowan nodded along. He did miss Elise a little, but his reluctance to part with Sabrina overshadowed that.

"In that case, I have some good news for you…" Sabrina deliberately kept them in suspense, then smiled. "I have work to do in Halston and might have to stay there for a long time. So, this time, I'm going back to Halston with you guys."

"Really?" Regina exclaimed before cheering. If Sabrina went back with them, then they could see her all the time!

It was then that Elise's video call came in. The ringtone chimed again and again as Regina deliberately waited for a moment before declining the call. Elise called several more times, and Regina, losing her patience, blocked her.

Sabrina tapped her lightly on the head, smiling instead of scolding her. "Regina, why didn't you answer your mommy's call?"

"It's her fault for ignoring me on purpose a few days ago and making me fall sick. Mommy is terrible. I don't want to talk to her!" Regina pouted as she spoke.

They would be back in Halston in a couple of days, anyway. From then on, they could see Elise whenever they wanted. And if Elise found out Sabrina had moved in with them, she would definitely be upset. Regina didn't want Elise to mess up her happy life with Sabrina.

Sabrina pinched Regina's cheek, her eyes crinkling as she smiled. "As long as our little princess is happy."

At first, Rowan felt that what Regina had done wasn't right, but he swallowed his words when he caught a glimpse of Sabrina's expression.

Calvin had told them that Sabrina was outstanding and different from other women. Since she didn't think Regina had done anything wrong, it probably wasn't a big deal. Besides, they would be seeing Elise soon, anyway.

On the other end of the line, Elise stared blankly at her phone when her calls stopped going through. The twins' phone was one she'd gotten specifically for them. They would never let anyone else touch it.

She knew very well that since the twins went to Ravenport, their feelings for her had cooled considerably. Still, she'd never imagined they would block her number.

In the end, she couldn't stop worrying about them, so she called the housekeeper at Serenity Estate, who was responsible for their daily care.

"Mrs. Fulton, Mr. Rowan and Ms. Regina are doing very well with Ms. Quill. They're with her right now while she's trying on clothes," the housekeeper reported.

The mention of Sabrina made a faint bitterness tug at Elise's chest. Rowan and Regina were the children she'd risked her life to bring into this world, and yet in the end, they clung to another woman.

"Okay. As long as they're fine," she said quietly.

She didn't mention that the kids had blocked her number. She knew what they were like. They'd been spoiled since they were little; throwing tantrums and doing things like this to lash out wasn't anything new.

In the past, she probably would've kept calling, refusing to give up. But now…

All at once, she realized she didn't care to fight it anymore. Once she knew the twins were safe, she could be at ease. Whether they still kept their mother in their hearts was no longer something she could control.

…

Two days later, Stephen made a full recovery. Very soon, Calvin decided to return to Halston and continue expanding Fulton Group's footprint.

Before heading back, Rowan and Regina went around saying goodbye to their preschool friends. Sabrina helped them prepare the gifts, but the kids who received them were a little disappointed.

"These dolls and toy cars are kind of old-fashioned. I still prefer the teddy bear cakes your mommy makes. Why didn't you bring them this time?" one of the kids closest to the twins grumbled.

Regina pressed her lips together. Those teddy bear cakes were made by Elise, and they were hard to make. More than once, she'd burned her hands baking them. Unfortunately, Sabrina didn't know how to make them. If only Elise were around…

Rowan felt a little down, too. Ever since Regina had blocked Elise, she hadn't called again. He hadn't heard her voice in so long, and he missed her a little.

Still, at least he would see her again very soon. He was more worried about Sabrina. With Elise around, they wouldn't be able to see Sabrina as much.

Calvin had no idea what was going on in the kids' heads.

When David learned that Calvin was returning to Halston, he made a point to call Calvin. "Mr. Fulton, Mrs. Fulton hasn't come back to the villa in a week. Do you want me to inform her that you're coming home?"

Calvin frowned. A moment later, his expression turned icy. "Don't bother. Since she doesn't want to come back, clear out her room. I'll move in there with the kids and Sabrina."

In the past, he had only gone back to the marital home to see the twins. But since Elise wanted to stay mad at him, she didn't need to return to that house anymore.

…

After moving out and returning to her old apartment, Elise planted some flowers on the balcony. She didn't exactly have a green thumb, but maybe because she was finally free from the shackles of her marriage, she felt much lighter.

The elderly gentleman next door, Hector Steele, ended up feeling sorry for the poor plants. He often huffed and glared at her over them. "Stop messing around with flowers if you don't know how to grow them, you silly child. You're about to drown them."

After he carefully tended to the flowers, another neighbor pulled Elise aside to explain. "Don't take it to heart—the old man's been cranky lately. I heard it's because his youngest son refuses to get married, and they've been fighting about it. That's why he stormed out and came to stay here."

Elise just responded with a small, amused smile.

The Fultons had strict rules about everything. In the past, to take care of them, she'd watched her every word and every step.

Hector might have been old-fashioned and stern, but with his guidance, taking care of the plants actually became a lot easier. Over time, despite the age difference, the two of them somehow grew into good friends.

That night, Elise received an invitation from her senior in college, Shannon Lowell.

Once Shannon heard that Elise was attending the heritage crafts festival, she immediately suggested they go together.

Elise had majored in design in college. She was sharp, quick on the uptake, and full of fresh, unconventional ideas. Back in the day, she joined Shannon's studio under the pseudonym "Smile" and created a string of stunning, brilliant works. Later, though, she'd withdrawn after getting married.

Shannon, on the other hand, had ridden the studio's success step by step to real prominence. It was no surprise she would be invited to the festival.

By the time Elise arrived, she found Shannon already working the crowd. In recent years, Shannon had really begun to make a name for herself, becoming a rising star in the industry. Many people approached her eagerly, hoping to build a connection.

A woman at the height of her career was always dazzling. Even the men around her were reduced to mere accessories and background.

Elise watched Shannon from a distance, then lowered her gaze. All these years, she'd poured her whole heart into Calvin and the twins, to the point where she'd almost forgotten the path that had brought her here.

After so many years away, could she really shine as brilliantly as she once had?

Just as she was lost in thought, Shannon came walking toward her. "This year's heritage crafts festival is really something—lots of promising new designers. Seeing them all reminds me of you back then. I wanted to keep you at Primero, but…"

Primero was the predecessor of Shannon's current company, the studio she'd founded while still in college.

Elise gave a bitter smile. "Primero's done just fine without me."

The design world constantly produced new geniuses and talent. No one could stay on top forever, especially since she hadn't touched design work in years.

"That's where I disagree." Shannon lit a cigarette and smiled. "Liss, it's true that Primero can operate just fine without you, but for the design world to be missing you is a real loss. A woman, especially a talented and smart woman like you, should never let anything hold her back."