Chapter 461
Even if Marcia was confirmed as the Wilkinson’s long-lost daughter, the family wasn’t known for being unreasonable. From the old patriarch to Laurel, they were all level-headed and wouldn’t turn against the Atwaters just because of a few words from Marcia.
But Carmela didn’t see it that way. “That may be true, but who knows if the Wilkinsons are just putting on a show? They’re an old, established family. They couldn’t very well abuse their power in front of so many people. But who knows what happens behind closed doors p>
“Frank, she’s always been head over heels for you. If it comes down to it p>
Carmela, telling herself it was for the good of the family, finally gritted her teeth and said it. “You should marry her p>
Frank looked at her as if she’d told a sick joke. “You’re so concerned with the big picture, why don’t you dig Dad up from his grave? You could arrange a posthumous wedding for him and Marcia p>
With that, any lingering warmth he felt for his mother vanished. He grabbed his suitcase and walked out. Carmela was so stunned by his words that she froze. The slam of the door snapped her back to reality. She yanked the door open and chased after him, her voice sharp. “Frank, do you have any idea what you’re saying? That’s your father! I’m your mother! Have you no respect for me p>
Frank handed his luggage to his driver, his face a calm mask. “And do you have any respect for me as your son?” If she did, she wouldn’t have ended his marriage without his consent. And she certainly wouldn’t be suggesting he marry Marcia now.
A flash of guilt crossed Carmela’s face, and she was speechless for a long moment, able to do nothing but watch the black Maybach disappear into the inky night. After a while, a cold gust of wind made her shiver, and she slowly turned back toward the house.
In
Had she done the wrong thing? No, of course not. She was just trying to protect the legacy her husband had left behind, to make the Atwater family even stronger Both Spencer and Frank had been allowed to marry for love once. What was wrong with making a small sacrifice for the family in a second marriage? In this world, everyone had to compromise.
As she closed the door, her conviction hardened. She was right. She wasn’t wrong
at all.
Elissa slept soundly. Last night, after his shower, Rowan had dried her hair and then quietly taken a blanket to sleep on the sofa, completely defying her anxious predictions. She stretched and got out of bed While she was washing up, she faintly heard the doorbell ring. It was a brief sounds Rowan was and knowing there, she didn’t give it much
thought.
When the front door opened, Frank’s warm expression vanished the moment he saw Rowan. “What are you doing at Elissa’s place p>
“She invited me to stay for a few days.” Rowan’s lazy gaze swept over Frank’s travel-worn face. He smirked, his tone a mix of feigned helplessness and indulgence. “I was going to say no, but I couldn’t resist her begging. Said Tanya Foster was out of town and she was too scared to sleep alone p>
It was half-truth, half-lie. The Elissa he knew from childhood had been just like that, timid as a mouse. Sometimes when he went out with friend and came back a little late, she would flood his phone with messages, urging him to come home. Rex Wilkinson used to tease him about it, saying he wasn’t raising a sister, he was raising a future wife.