Chapter 363
The gesture was intimate, possessive.
Frank heard the elevator and looked over, his brow furrowing. He couldn’t believe it. Even after the Murphy family had killed Elissa’s parents, Rowan was still by her side, acting as if he had every right to be there.
He suppressed his anger and smiled at Elissa. “Why are you back with Rowan p>
“He hurt his leg,” Elissa said, skipping the details. She didn’t struggle against Rowan’s hold, letting him lean on her.
Frank raised an eyebrow, looking at Rowan. “A girl her size can’t support you properly. Let me help p>
He reached out to take Rowan’s arm.
“Not necessary.” Rowan sidestepped him, not missing the opportunity to play up his injury. He staggered, his back hitting the wall with a thud.
Elissa quickly steadied him. Knowing what Frank was up to, her expression hardened. “It’s fine, I can manage. Leave him alone p>
“You hear that?” Rowan leaned comfortably on her shoulder, a smug smirk directed at Frank. “I don’t need your help p>
Frank was beginning to see that the relationship between them wasn’t as simple as he’d thought. Last night, he had assumed Rowan had forced himself on Elissa. But looking at her now, she didn’t seem to be resisting him. If Rowan had truly assaulted her, knowing her personality, she would have kept her distance. She wouldn’t be subconsciously protecting him like this.
When the elevator doors opened, Elissa helped Rowan inside first. Frank watched their backs with a cold expression before following them in. When he looked at Elissa again, his face was calm. “I need to talk to you. Can I come up later p>
“Okay,” Elissa agreed, doing a quick mental calculation. “How about eight-thirty? I’ll be free then.” Tanya had texted her that she was working late again and wouldn’t be home until then.
Once they reached their floor, Elissa helped Rowan into his apartment and got an ice pack from the freezer for his leg As she was applying it she noticed something odd about the injury. “This looks like it’s been twice p>
hyrt
Rowan hadn’t expected her to be so perceptive, but he kept his face impassive. “Does it matter how many times it was hurt? The fact is, your kick was the final blow p>
He was being completely unreasonable, but Elissa knew she couldn’t win an argument with him. “Hold the ice pack for a minute. I’ll go get the ointment p>
“It’s in the storage cabinet,” Rowan said, nodding toward a nearby cupboard.
Elissa opened it and found an entire box filled with the same custom-made ointment. She had developed the formula herself years ago, but the rare ingredients made it expensive to produce. After leaving Rowan, she couldn’t afford to make it anymore and had to settle for a less effective substitute.
But p>
In the past, after she had been punished at the Murphy estate, a tube of this exact ointment would mysteriously appear on her nightstand. She had wondered if he was the gre leaving it for her But the memory of his cold, decisive abandonment was always stronger. So she allowed herself to wonder, but she never dared to believe.
Shaking off the chaotic thoughts, Elissa took a tube from the box. As she turned around, the man behind her spoke, his voice clear and sharp. “This whole story about you and Frank getting back together… it’s fake, isn’t it p>
No couple would speak to each other as formally as they had in the elevator. Her attitude toward Frank was even colder than her attitude toward him.