Chapter 149
“Why should I go home with you p>
With people all around them, Elissa flushed in embarrassment and tried to wriggle free from his grasp. “Frank, can’t you be reasonable for once p>
Frank frowned. “I’m not being reasonable p>
He couldn’t explain it himself–just seeing her laughing so easily with another man left him utterly restless.
Marcia had insisted on going shopping today, and he hadn’t wanted to arouse suspicion, so he accompanied her as usual.
He never expected to stumble upon a scene like this.
Elissa was his wife. He could accept that her job meant she sometimes crossed paths with other men.
But seeing her so close to someone else even during her time off–that
rattled him to the core.
Elissa’s tone was icy. “Is double standards your idea of ‘reasonable p>
He could come and go with Marcia as he pleased, but if she so much as had lunch with a man, he lost his composure.
Frank’s tone left no room for argument. “Marciá’s already moved out. I’m taking you to Vistapeak Gardens now to pack your things and come home p>
“And what if I refuse p>
“Elissa, this isn’t your decision to make p>
As he spoke, the elevator doors slid open. Frank kept hold of her, intent on ushering her inside.
“Mr. Atwater- ”
A steady, commanding voice cut through the tension. Rowan’s words were cool as ice. “So this is where my sister ended up? I step away for a
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phone call, and she vanishes, only to be dragged off here p>
Frank’s brow twitched, but a wave of relief washed over him. He turned to Elissa. “You were having dinner with Rowan p>
She nodded. “Yes p>
With Rowan standing there, Elissa felt her embarrassment deepen. She yanked her hand free from Frank’s grip.
Her skin was delicate; even after that brief struggle, a red mark circled her fair wrist.
Rowan’s expression darkened, his gaze cold and unreadable. “She can’t even have dinner with someone if she wants p>
“Of course she can,” Frank replied, forcing himself to sound calm and reasonable. “I just worry she’ll run into someone with bad intentions. I’d hate for her to get hurt without even realizing it p>
“If she’d told me she was meeting you, I wouldn’t have worried at all,” he added.
Everyone in their circle knew how fiercely protective Rowan had always been of his little sister.
Elissa had been adorable since she was a child, and by the time she was in middle school, boys were already lining up to give her love notes.
Rowan had thrown every single one straight into the trash without
exception.
He never liked anyone càsting greedy eyes on his precious sister.
With Rowan keeping watch over Elissa, Frank couldn’t feel more
reassured.
Rowan took Elissa’s hand, inspecting the red mark and gently brushing his thumb across it. His eyes softened, dark with concern. “She’s an adult now. She has every right to choose the company she keeps p>
Elissa froze for a second.
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It was as if Rowan had reverted to the brother who always shielded her from harm, never allowing anyone to bully her.
Frank finally realized he’d gripped her arm too tightly and felt a pang of guilt. “I got too worked up. I’m sorry p>
“Oh, right–Rowan just moved into a new place. We’re all going over next week for his housewarming. You should come too,” Frank offered, slipping seamlessly into his usual way of smoothing things over.
It was his favorite tactic–giving her a way out, an olive branch in front of
others.
She, meanwhile, was thinking that this would be the perfect excuse to see Max openly. “Alright p>
Hearing her agree, Frank’s gaze softened even more.
Most of the time, she really was so well–behaved.
Later that day, Elissa went to her clinic as usual.
Red lanterns and festive garlands decorated the entrance and parking lot, filling the air with the warmth of the holidays. Other clinics were nearly empty by now, but as soon as her appointments opened, they filled up in
seconds.
Her nurses were caught in that bittersweet space between frustration and delight.
Other clinics had already let their staff off for the holidays, but her team would have to work straight through until the day before the festivities began.
Still, every year, Elissa paid them triple wages out of her own pocket before anyone else. Benefits like that were unheard of even in the best hospitals.
Mindful that her patients were eager to be home for the holidays, Elissa postponed acupuncture treatments whenever possible, letting them pick
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up their prescriptions and head straight home.
“Elissa, after your shift, just come straight to the house, alright p>
Midway through the afternoon, Jacqueline–Aaron’s wife–called her.
Elissa smiled. “Today’s the professor’s birthday. Even if you didn’t invite me, I’d still show up with a big smile and a gift p>
Aaron was renowned for his skill as a physician. If he wanted, the line to his door would start days in advance.
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