Chapter 346
Chapter 347
Frank picked up the file from the passenger seat, slid into the car, and glanced at Elissa with gentle concern. “You don’t know how to deal with Rowan, do you p>
Elissa turned away, her voice a little hoarse. “Something like that p>
Even with that signed agreement, she could no longer convince herself.
What a joke.
The man she’d trusted wholeheartedly for the first nine years of her life, who’d driven her to the edge so many times in the nine years since, was now–of all things–the grandson of her parents‘ enemy. And, impossibly, he was someone she’d started to care for.
He was, in her mind, one of the most important people in her life.
But the gulf between them was so much wider than just their families now.
There were two lives lost–her parents‘ lives.
It was almost darkly comical.
Frank reached out, meaning to ruffle her hair, but when she instinctively leaned away, he slowly withdrew his hand with a sigh. “If I hadn’t told you, would you still be hurting like this p>
Elissa gave a wry twist of her lips. “Then my parents would have died for nothing p>
“I could get justice for you p>
Frank’s words came without hesitation, making Elissa pause. She turned to him. “You would? The Atwater family would p>
Frank wasn’t just responsible for his own life–he had an entire legacy on his shoulders.
He hesitated. “The Atwater family p>
-They’d have no choice, whether they wanted to or not.
He and his mother owed their lives to her.
“Frank,” Elissa drew a deep breath, cutting him off. “You’ve already done more than enough just by finding all this out for me. I’ll handle everything else myself p>
She didn’t want to owe any more favors.
Let this be the end of it. They were even now.
With that, she got out of the car and walked toward the elevator lobby.
Frank hurried after her. “Elissa, this isn’t as simple as you think. Those people–they’re about to get
out of prison. When they do, you’re going to be in even more danger p>
Elissa didn’t break stride. “That’s my problem, not yours p>
“Elissa p>
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11:49
Chapter 347
Frank caught her arm, blocking her path. He spoke with quiet intensity, “I promise, I just want to help. I won’t ever cross the line again p>
“Please, don’t shut me out. Okay p>
Exhausted, Elissa looked up at him. “Frank, I’m tired. I just want to go home p>
His grip slackened. He let her go, following at a distance as she entered her building.
Elissa walked to the elevator, eyes lowered. She only realized someone else was there when the lights seemed to dim, and she looked up.
A man stood there in a tailored suit, looking every inch the aristocrat. The overhead lights seemed to carve a line between them, as if they belonged to different worlds entirely.
She pressed her lips together and took a step back.
Rowan’s brow furrowed. The knot in his chest, tight for days now, only grew heavier, making it hard to breathe.
He truly couldn’t fathom what was going on in her head anymore.
Rowan tried to rein in his emotions. He wasn’t used to lowering himself, but he finally let go of a bit of pride, looking down at her. “What exactly are you p>
He broke off as Frank walked over to her.
She’d shied away from Rowan, but as Frank approached, she didn’t move an inch.
For a moment, Rowan almost laughed at himself.
Frank, oblivious to the tension, assumed the file had just driven a wedge between the siblings. He tried to reassure Rowan. “Give Elissa some time. When she’s ready, she’ll talk to you p>
Time?
A decision?
A conversation?
Rowan let out a cold, sharp laugh, his voice as brittle as ice. “Talk to me about what? Are you two getting married again p>
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