12

After five years apart, she showed no interest in catching up. Instead, she scooped up Eleanor and tried to leave. Unsurprisingly, she was stopped. Elijah looks more mature than he did a few years ago, but he's not in good condition, with heavy red blood vessels in his eyes. “Josie, do you know how long I've been searching for you? Why did you keep moving? Why did you keep hiding from me?” His tone remained as unpleasant as it had been five years prior. “Hiding from you? You're overthinking it. I've just been living my life.” Josephine's voice was cold and utterly flat, as if she were speaking to a stranger. Elijah stared deeply at her, his eyes filled with emotions she couldn't decipher. He looked at the child in her arms again. When he saw the face that was almost exactly the same as Josephine's, he froze on the spot. “Josie, you really were... pregnant when you left back then.” “Why didn't you tell me?” His expression wavered for a moment before hardening. “Come back with me. I'll