Chapter 16 اسم الافيا كلير Iris was sentenced to prison for imprisoning and abusing children . As soon as Benjamin and Elijah were discharged from the hospital , they and Sebastian went to the Windsor residence . But they didn't even get through the door when Benjamin and Elijah clung to their grandparents ' legs . Daniel and Catherine's eyes filled with pity . However , remembering Eloise's instructions , they still didn't reveal her whereabouts . The three of them went again a few more times afterward but always came back empty - handed . The Moore residence no longer had a lady of the house . With only two ten - year - old kids at home , they had to find a relative to come and help take care of them . After a few days of staying home , the kids returned to school . But after their long absence , they could no longer keep up with their studies . They were constantly distracted in class , and they rarely did their homework . For that reason , the teachers kept calling Sebastian's academy . Sebastian began making frequent mistakes at work . When he got yet another complaint call from the school , he rubbed his forehead , feeling frustrated and exhausted . He thought of Eloise again . When he found out that Eloise had divorced him , it had felt like a fire igniting in his chest . He was angry that she had left without saying a word and furious she'd abandoned the kids . So , he chose to return to the academy and pour himself into research . But every night when he lay on the bed at the academy , he couldn't fall asleep like he used to . The Eloise he had always taken for granted suddenly kept appearing in his mind . The way she smiled and tried to please him ; the way she panicked when he was angry ; the way she looked so gentle and skilled at doing housework ; the way she tenderly soothed the kids … Many moments he used to dismiss without a second thought were now turning into sharp needles , stabbing his heart . That sharp , continuous pain tormented him constantly , leaving him restless day and night . The longer it went on , the stronger the pain grew , and the emptier he felt . The Iris he once thought he loved so deeply that he couldn't let go of had suddenly become dispensable . When he learned that she had abused Benjamin and Elijah , he felt nothing but anger and hatred . He didn't feel reluctant to part at all . Sebastian sat in his office chair and let out a long sigh . Everything had gone so smoothly when Eloise was around . It had only been a month , and his life already felt like a complete mess . He got off work and went straight to pick up the kids , helping them with their homework himself . But within just half an hour , he lost his temper ten times out of frustration . Elijah flinched and suddenly burst into tears . " I don't n't want Dad an anymore . You're meaner than Mom … " " Sebastian froze . The memories hit him all at once . The look of exhaustion on Eloise's face as she helped with homework ; the times he caught her scolding the kids and criticized her for it ; the helplessness in her eyes when she faced a messy house … His heart began to throb with pain , and only then did he realize that he had never truly put himself in her shoes . The overwhelming guilt almost consumed him . Sebastian stood up abruptly and went back to the bedroom . Everything that had belonged to Eloise had long been cleared out . Even the clothes she had once sewn for him had been burned to aslies . He thought again of Eloise's face glowing in the firelight at sunset . Sebastian slumped to the ground . In the pitch - black room , his red eyes glistened with tears . It wasn't until late into the night that he finally moved his numb and stiff body and went into the kids ' room . Benjamin and Elijah were huddled together tightly , curled up into little balls . This was a sign of deep insecurity . Heartache filled Sebastian's eyes . He stayed by their bedside and eventually fell asleep there . Just like that , three years had passed . Sebastian had long found out that after Eloise left , she bought a plane ticket to Yarnell . Over the past few years , whenever he had time or a break , he would take the kids with him to look for her . But not once did they find Eloise . Benjamin and Elijah had just started middle school . Their grades weren't great , but at least they were trying . There was no light in their eyes or youthful energy on their faces . They were always gloomy and quiet , out of place among their peers . Sebastian was still working at the academy . He would often not come home for more than two weeks when he got busy . But he made sure to call the kids every day to check in on their studies and everyday life . On holidays , they would send gifts to the Windsors . However , the Windsors remained distant toward them . They never revealed even a hint about Eloise . Three years had passed , and she had never once come back . Many people had tried to introduce Sebastian to someone new , but he turned them all down . All three of them waited for her stubbornly . When summer break arrived , Sebastian took time off and brought Benjamin and Elijah to Regentwell Street . The first McDuffs in Eidolen was opening today , and a long line of people had formed to eat there . The three of them stood in line , their gazes falling on a clothing store that had also opened today . " Henova . " Sebastian glanced at the sign a couple more times . Just as he was about to look away , he suddenly saw a slender and graceful figure near a shelf behind the window . He froze . The people behind him in line impatiently pushed Sebastian twice before he snapped back to his senses and suddenly ran out . # 4