"Miss Ella, my interest in you has grown even stronger, and I find myself curious about your husband as well. However, the time isn’t right just yet. I hope that one day, I’ll have the chance to meet you."
The note carried no threats, just a casual, almost indifferent tone, as though the writer were nonchalantly sharing their thoughts.
"This tone..." Ella frowned. "It really might just be some kind of word game. What do you think?"
Eric gently brushed his cheek against hers, his warm breath fanning across her face. "Game or not, I’ll make sure they don’t get their way. I’ll have everyone stay extra vigilant."
Ella sighed, frustration creeping into her voice. "But this person is so elusive, almost impossibly skilled. No matter how much we investigate, we can’t find them. Eric, isn’t this the first time something has happened?"
Even with Grace and Donald, who had hidden their tracks so well, they’d managed to uncover the truth. But this time, the culprit was far too cunning. It had been nearly two years since the notes started appearing, and they still hadn’t found a single lead.
"Don’t worry. There will come a day when everything is revealed," Eric reassured her. Ella said nothing more, only wishing for some happy, peaceful days with him.
Living a life of constant vigilance and suspicion wasn’t what she wanted.
Ella had hoped the writer would surface soon, but months passed, and her sons grew older—five months older, to be exact—with no further incidents. The letters had stopped altogether.
Ella even began to feel as though those notes had never existed, as though they were just a bad dream.
Or perhaps, as Eric had suggested, the notes were merely a way to disrupt their peace—a safe yet effective tactic to keep their nerves on edge. Surely, the sender must be feeling smug about it.
Meanwhile, Elias and Dorian’s toys were updated every week, a frequency so high that Mrs. Moore jokingly called them the most spoiled children she’d seen in her ten years as a nanny.
However, as the boys grew, Ella faced new challenges. With their growing sense of self, the little buns often fought over things, even identical toys, leading to crying fits.
Thankfully, the boys could be calmed down with a bit of persuasion, but their occasional tantrums tested everyone’s patience.
The boys were also incredibly attached to Ella. The moment she moved or left the room, they would immediately follow her.
Mrs. Moore assured her this was a normal phase. "Children are closest to their mothers. Give it some time, and they’ll grow out of this clinginess."
One evening, Elias and Dorian insisted on squeezing into the master bedroom, bouncing on the large sofa with boundless energy.
Ella sighed, wordlessly watching her little princes wreak havoc while Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Moore stood nearby to prevent any accidents.
When Eric arrived home, the room was a chaotic mess. Raising an eyebrow, he silently placed his briefcase to the side.
"Daddy... Daddy!" Elias cried out, running to hug Eric’s leg.
Not to be left out, Dorian toddled over, grabbing Eric’s hand. "Daddy... Daddy! Kiss me!"
Ella couldn’t hold back a laugh as Dorian giggled gleefully, reaching up to tug on Eric’s earlobe.
Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Moore exchanged amused smiles and quietly left the room, knowing the children were well-fed and wanting to give the family some private time.
"Elias, Dorian, were you good today?" Eric asked, kissing one and then the other with a chuckle.
"Good!" the two little buns chorused in unison.
"Alright, time to go back to your room and sleep, okay?" Eric said, wrapping an arm around each of the little ones, his face full of joy.
"Mommy... Mommy!" Elias wriggled free and toddled toward Ella. Eric sighed and let him go, watching as the little boy giggled and flung himself into Ella’s arms.
Ella’s heart melted. She picked Elias up, but Dorian, not wanting to be left out, began to protest. She had no choice but to set Elias down.
Dorian scooted over, clinging tightly to Ella, while Elias latched onto her other side. Eric tried to gently coax the boys, hoping to convince them to return to their room, but the two clung stubbornly to Ella’s hands, refusing to let go.
Dorian even tugged her toward a corner to play with the little toy airplane he’d brought into the room.
The four of them ended up having a grand time playing together in the bedroom. Eventually, Elias and Dorian tired themselves out and clambered onto Ella and Eric’s bed.
"Mommy will take you to your room to sleep, okay?" Ella asked, reaching out to pick up Elias.
But Elias flopped onto the blanket instead, closing his eyes contentedly.
Dorian rolled over to lie beside his brother. The two little ones, lying side by side, fell fast asleep in an instant.
Ella and Eric exchanged a glance, both slightly exasperated yet amused. They’re such a handful when they’re awake, but once they’re asleep, it’s like flipping a switch.
Children, so carefree and innocent, really were a wonder.
"Let’s have Mrs. Moore carry them back to their room," Eric suggested with a smile.
Ella shook her head. "Let them sleep a little longer. If we wake them now, it won’t be good."
Eric sat down beside her. The crisp autumn air lingered, but playing with the boys had left Ella slightly flushed, her cheeks glowing like a ripe peach. Eric couldn’t help but feel a spark of desire. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he leaned in, cupped her face, and kissed her deeply.
Ella didn’t resist, leaning into him instead. But as the kiss grew more passionate, she pulled back slightly, breathless. "No... don’t. You’ll wake the boys."
Eric, equally breathless, murmured, "Too late... I need you."
In his eagerness, Eric accidentally knocked the toy airplane off the bed. It hit the floor with a loud clatter, startling Elias and Dorian awake.
The two little boys sat up, blinking sleepily, and turned their wide eyes toward their parents, who froze in an awkward position.
Elias, ever the playful one, crawled over to Eric and laughed, wrapping his tiny arms around Eric’s arm and giving it a playful bite.
Ella quickly pulled Elias away, her cheeks red. "Elias, that’s Daddy’s arm, not something to eat!"
Her face burned with embarrassment. He must’ve seen Eric kiss me and thought it was something to copy.
Dorian, oblivious, flopped back down and went straight back to sleep. But Elias, full of energy, grabbed Ella’s hand and gave it a light nibble, grinning mischievously.
"Alright, Elias, time for bed!" Eric said, scratching his head in defeat. Ella had been right—once their little prince was awake, there was no disciplining him.
Ella cradled Elias, gently rocking him until he finally nestled against her chest and drifted off again.
This time, Eric behaved himself. He quietly carried Elias and Dorian back to the nursery, tucking them in before sighing in relief.
Back in their room, Eric didn’t waste a moment. Without a word, he scooped Ella into his arms and strode toward the bathroom, determined to make up for the earlier interruption.