Chapter 188
Chapter 188
“What do you mean? You put all your wedding fund into buying your brother a house p>
“Yeah p>
Tanya Foster rolled her eyes, grabbed a beer, and took a long swig to vent her anger. “They can keep dreaming. They actually said, ‘You’ve been working for three or four years now, and you’re a lawyer, earning a good salary–you must have plenty saved up, so it’s only natural for you to help your brother out p>
Elissa gave a wry smile, reached over, and gently patted Tanya’s head.
“Your life and your money are yours. As long as you don’t want to give it, they can’t take a single cent from you p>
There was only so much more Elissa could say. No matter how unreasonable Tanya’s family was, they were still her family–people bound by blood. Cutting ties with family is never as easy as it sounds.
Tanya looked up at her, her usual sharpness gone, her voice small and plaintive. “But what if they force me? What if they just won’t take no for an answer p>
Elissa couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, you’ve got me. I can protect you p>
She wasn’t joking–she had enough money to hire Tanya a whole team of bodyguards if it came to that.
The next morning, Elissa and Tanya got up early. They decorated the house with garlands and window decals for the holidays, and took out some of the homemade meatballs Jacqueline and Janice had dropped off to fry them up again.
The festive spirit was just starting to fill the house when the doorbell rang.
Tanya dashed to answer it and returned a minute later, tapping Elissa on the shoulder in the kitchen. “Your ex–husband’s here. Asking for you p>
Elissa frowned. “Can you watch the meatballs for me p>
She handed Tanya the slotted spoon and headed to the door.
Frank didn’t come inside. He stood in the doorway, hands tucked into his coat pockets. “Elissa, I’m here to take you back to the manor p>
Elissa hesitated.
After the divorce, she’d almost forgotten about this tradition. Spending the holidays at
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the Atwater estate was practically a family law–no matter how dysfunctional the year had been, the Atwaters always put on a show of togetherness for Christmas.
“All right, give me a minute p>
She didn’t refuse. “Let me change p>
She hadn’t planned to go out, and was still in her cozy loungewear. When she’d slipped into something nicer and dabbed on a bit of makeup, she stepped out the door and noticed someone else had appeared outside.
Rowan was standing by the elevator, waiting for the lift to arrive. The tension in the air was palpable–clearly, someone had gotten on his bad side this morning.
Frank must have greeted him already. When Elissa stepped out, Frank spoke quietly. “Let’s go p>
“Okay p>
She walked with him toward the elevator. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Rowan’s gaze flicker over to her, and she instinctively edged a little further away from Frank.
Only then did Rowan look at her directly. “I’ll pick you up from the Atwater place this afternoon. Come back to the manor for dinner p>
“You’re coming back for Christmas dinner this year?” Elissa was genuinely surprised.
In all these years, Rowan could probably count on one hand the number of times he’d come home for the holidays.
Rowan didn’t bother to explain. He just nodded. “Yeah p>
“Rowan, there’s no need for you to go out of your way to pick up Elissa p>
Frank spoke up suddenly, glancing at Elissa, his handsome features softening. “I’ll go with her this year p>
Elissa was even more taken aback.
Frank had never spent the holidays at Murphy Manor with her before. Every year, Spencer and Marcia would come back to the manor for Christmas, and Frank would stay at the Atwater estate, barely leaving their side.
This year, Spencer was gone, but Marcia was still Hickey’s mother, so she was expected to return for the holidays.
Since when did Frank have time to accompany her to Murphy Manor?
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Chapter 189