Chapter 422
Frank took a deep breath and managed a half-joking smile. “Don’t worry about it. We go way back. I’m not going to call the cops on him.” He paused, then explained, “I was just on edge earlier. That’s why I said what I did to Rowan p>
He was, of course, referring to the baby.
“I know,” Elissa nodded.
Frank looked into her eyes. “But if you ever change your mind, I can go explain everything to him myself p>
Around noon, Suzanne Jensen returned to the hospital, this time with a nourishing meal for Elissa.
“Eat up,” Suzanne urged as she unpacked the food. “I heard the doctor say you can be discharged tomorrow p>
Elissa knew Suzanne’s concern was genuine and nodded quickly. “Yes, I told you it was nothing serious. You don’t need to worry p>
“So, where will you stay after you leave?” Suzanne had also been told by the doctor that Elissa shouldn’t travel long distances for now.
“A hotel for a couple of days should be fine,” Elissa said, sipping some soup with
a smile. “It’s not as bad as the doctor makes it sound. After another two or three days of rest, I’ll be able to go back to Vistapeak City.” She could use the time as a small vacation to recuperate.
“And here I thought you considered me a friend,” Suzanne said with a reproachful look. “You’d rather stay in a hotel than come to the Wilkinson Manor. Laurel has already told the staff to prepare a guest room for you. As soon as you’re discharged tomorrow, you’re coming straight to our house to rest properly p>
Suzanne left no room for refusal.
Elissa was both amused and touched. “Old Mr. Wilkinson is back from his service, isn’t he? It might not be appropriate to have an outsider in the house p>
“Nonsense,” Suzanne waved it off. “The old man loves having people around. The more the merrier.” He would probably be delighted to have someone Vera’s age in the house. His greatest regret was never having had the chance to meet Vera. All these years, the mere mention of her name could bring him to tears, clutching her photograph, inconsolable.
With the offer made so warmly, Elissa didn’t want to seem ungrateful. “Alright
then. That way, your treatments won’t be interrupted either p>
“I’m having you over to rest,” Suzanne insisted. “The doctor said you need to take it easy p>
Elissa chuckled. “It’s just a little acupuncture. It’s not that strenuous.” She knew her own body, and she had already given herself a treatment that morning to stabilize the pregnancy. The real reason she didn’t want to return to Vistapeak City immediately wasn’t her physical condition, but the fact that the person behind the car crash was still at large. She worried they might try something again on her way back.
Marcia was terrified when she learned the man she’d paid a fortune to hire had been caught. After a sleepless night in Cresthaven, she sped back toward Vistapeak City at dawn, praying the whole way that Elissa, that witch, had died.
The woman had vanished off the face of the earth since the accident. Then again, after that press conference, Elissa’s fame had also earned her a host of enemies. Maybe she had fallen into the hands Someone who hated her guts Marcia hoped so Let her get a taste of what it felt like to wish for death
but be denied it.
The thought cheered her up considerably.
But just as her car was about to turn onto the road leading to the Atwater Manor, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan shot toward her, screeching to a halt just inches from her front bumper.
Marcia slammed on her brakes, her heart pounding. She threw her door open and stormed out, yelling, “What the hell are you doing? Are you blind p>
Backed by the Atwater family, she was used to throwing her weight around in Vistapeak City, except when faced with the Murphys.