Chapter 263: Love Lost and Found?

After Sophia posed her question, Easton didn’t respond immediately but asked one of his own, sincere confusion etched on his face. Sophia frowned.

“Easton, you think I don’t want to see Ellis? It’s Ellis who doesn’t want to see me.”

Being the slight reproach in his mother’s tone, Easton furrowed his brow. “Why wouldn’t she want to see you?”

If he approached Ellis himself, she might get annoyed, show blatant disapproval, maybe even avoid and ignore him entirely. He hoped the situation would be different with his mother involved. He had hoped to meet Ellis openly through his mother! But now, his mother’s words that Ellis didn’t want to see her left him at a loss. Sophia was at a loss for words, stunned by her son’s words.

After sipping her tea, she slowly set down the cup, her tongue clicking against her teeth in self-disgust. The way you treated Ellis before. Ellis came to me for help, and I didn’t assist her. It’s hard to say she doesn’t harbor some resentment towards me, even if she doesn’t show it. Now that you two are divorced, I’m no longer her mother-in-law. It’s normal for her not to want to see me.

Sophia couldn’t believe Ellis hadn’t considered cutting ties with the Hudson family entirely because Emma had mentioned that Ellis didn’t even want to see her anymore. They were completely out of touch, with Ellis having unilaterally blocked and deleted her. Emma was close to Ellis, and even she wasn’t in contact. It was telling of how unpleasant Ellis’s marriage had been, instinctively avoiding anything related to Easton. Remember, Ellis was the kind who firmly refused a 40-million-dollar settlement.

Easton pressed his lips together. “Can’t you try to arrange a meeting with her?”

“It’s not that simple,” Sophia considered. “Out of a hundred attempts, maybe one might succeed.” She felt she was in a better position than Emma, at least being able to contact Ellis. Emina had recently complained about her adopted daughter’s indifference, despite Emma’s intentions being for her good.

Visions of Ellis trying to please her mother flashed before Easton, the stark contrast between then and now furrowing his brow. “I never expected Ellis to turn her back so quickly, cutting off anyone who loses value…”

“You’re being unfair,” Sophia disagreed with her son’s harsh assessment. “She went through a failed marriage; it’s understandable she wouldn’t want to see her ex’s mother.”

“Mom, can you try to arrange a meeting? I want to…” Easton trailed off, stopping midway. Sophia studied him closely. His behavior and the frequent mentions of Ellis gave her a strange feeling. Surely this wasn’t just because Ellis had said a few things that upset him?

“Just stop making things difficult for Ellis and Emma!” Sophia poured herself another cup of tea. “You hassle them unnecessarily, and when they come to me, it puts me in an awkward position.”

It was more than awkward; it was embarrassing. Easton’s unempathetic approach made her question where she went wrong in raising him, wishing he could be more flexible. Some things can’t be forced.

“I’m not trying to hassle Ellis, I want to see her.” Easton finally completed his thought, a hint of embarrassment crossing his eyes as he fought his reluctance.

“You’ve hassled her enough,” noticing her son’s contorted expression, Sophia didn’t continue chiding him. “If you want to see her, you should do it yourself. Asking me to help…” She paused, realizing Easton’s request was unusual, changing her question. “You want to see Ellis? In what way? You need her…”

“I miss her.” Easton stated boldly, a relief washing over him as he let down his guard, reminding himself that he was talking to his mother, with whom he could share anything.

Sophia almost spat out her tea, startled, her throat tickling as she coughed, struggling to breathe. She quickly finished her tea to calm herself, staring at her son without blinking. “You miss Ellis? Do you remember you’re her ex-husband, that you’re divorced?”

When Easton and Ellis were getting divorced, he had once complained that she had forced him into a marriage with a woman he didn’t love. Now, suddenly, he was saying he missed Ellis, leaving Sophia feeling like the world was spinning, her mind dizzy as she tried to digest her son’s change of heart.

“Yes, I miss her.” For the first time, Easton had never missed someone so profoundly. Ellis had been miles away in Averton, not as easily reachable as everyone in Stonebridge. Wanting to see her was difficult enough, especially since she clearly didn’t want to see him. The distance and the buildup of longing made him desperately want to see her.

Sophia signaled for her son to hold off speaking further, needing a moment to sort through her thoughts. What did my son mean by saying he missed Ellis! Was it romantic?