The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 1814

Marlinie held her daughter’s slightly cold hand tighter. “No. I want to take you away from here with me. Would you come with me?”

Ellinor seemed taken aback. The answer, which she thought was certain, now seemed uncertain.

Realizing that Ellinor was hesitating, Marlinie realized that her daughter was no longer a little girl.

Pearl had grown up. She had her own concerns and people who cared for her.

Marlinie wiped away her tears and chuckled. “Look at me, still thinking of you as a little girl. I must have forgotten that you’re now a grown woman with your own home and children.”

Snapping back to reality, Ellinor looked at her mother with some difficulty. “Can’t you just stay with us?”

The smile on Marlinie’s lips turned bittersweet. “Pearl, I…”

her mother’s reluctance. “Mom, you don’t want to

silent. That

Howards were

them. She didn’t want to stay in a place

mother’s hands tightly in both of hers. “I understand! The Howards are in Greenhaven, so we can live

they won’t let me go. As long

seeing her mother be so terrified of the Howards, Ellinor’s heart sank. She couldn’t imagine the kind of torment her mother must

to be

would definitely make them pay for

didn’t press the issue. “Okay, we’ll discuss whether you’re coming with me or

Marlinie nodded. They held hands and chatted about where she’d been and what

fell asleep

Ellinor gently called out to her a few times. When she didn’t get a response, she made sure her mother was comfortably asleep before covering her with a blanket and stepping