Chapter 531
Elissa was stunned. She hadn’t expected him to publicly sever his ties with Paige Jensen so suddenly.
Before she could even process it, Rowan had wrapped his arm around her waist and escorted her out of Atwater Manor.
Inside the manor, the crowd was left utterly shell-shocked. It took a long moment for anyone to find their voice.
“What does that mean? Rowan is the eldest son of the Murphy family. If he has no biological relation to the matriarch… does that mean Paige Jensen was just a mistress?” Mrs. Walters blurted out, her eyes wide with disbelief as she pieced the puzzle together.
If that were true, Rowan allowing her to host the funeral was already an incredible act of grace.
Carmela’s head was still spinning. Hearing the gossip, she immediately snapped, “Who knows if he’s telling the truth? That man will spin any lie to get what he wants!”
One of the other socialites scoffed. “No one makes up something like that. Mr. Murphy has been at the helm of the family for years without tearing off the old mistress’s mask. He doesn’t seem nearly as cold-blooded as the rumors suggest.”
Mrs. Walters nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Just look at how fiercely he protects Elissa. You know a man like that is one of the good ones!”
In a world saturated with wealth and superficiality, it was incredibly rare to see a man defend his partner with such devotion.
Listening to the women sing Rowan’s praises, Carmela was so furious she couldn’t speak.
Beneath her anger, however, lay a deep, suffocating panic.
Was Elissa really going to marry into the Murphy family?
Carmela had crossed the girl far too many times. If Elissa truly became Mrs.
Murphy, she would make Carmela’s life a living hell.
And these women around her? They would undoubtedly flock to Elissa’s side, eager to gain her favor.
But Carmela’s panic was nothing compared to Frank’s. Standing on the staircase, his fingers gripped the railing so tightly they trembled.
It all made sense now.
No wonder Elissa had so casually announced she had a boyfriend.
He had assumed she was just blinded by a fleeting romance. But the truth was, there was absolutely nothing standing between her and Rowan!
Rowan had absolutely no connection to the people who had ruined her family.
With her dignity in shreds, Carmela had no desire to continue the flower-arranging event. She made a quick excuse and wrapped up the gathering early.
As the crowd dispersed, Hickey spotted Frank lingering on the landing. “Frank!” he called out excitedly.
Old Mrs. Atwater followed her
grandson’s gaze and signaled for Frank to come downstairs. As he approached, she eyed the velvet jewelry box in his hand. “You heard everything just now, didn’t you?”
Frank didn’t bother denying it. “I heard.”
Fearing he was still clinging to false hope, Old Mrs. Atwater said sternty, “Then let it go. Move on. Elissa¶s a wonderful girl, and we should all be
happy she’s found a good man.”
Carmela, who was just about to head upstairs, paused. “Mother, that’s completely
unfair. Frank can find someone so much better than her.”
Yes.
As long as she could get Frank to marry Marcia Carson, the Atwater and Wilkinson families would be bound together. Then, all these Socialites would come crawling back to her like lapdogs!
Old Mrs. Atwater’s face darkened. “Who? Marcia?”
Before Carmela could nod, the older woman snapped, “The Murphy boy was right about you! With your atrocious behavior, I have no idea how you ever managed to join our family!”
Foolish and malicious.
If she allowed two brothers to marry the same woman, she would never be able to face her late husband in the afterlife.
“Don’t ever bring this up again!” Old Mrs. Atwater hissed through gritted teeth. Carmela bit her tongue, retreating into silence.
But her mind was already racing.
If she could just get the Wilkinson family to agree to the marriage first, the Atwaters wouldn’t be able to refuse.
She would find the perfect moment to pitch the idea at the upcoming charity gala.
Once Carmela scurried away, Old Mrs. Atwater turned her sharp gaze back to Frank. “Did you hear a word I just said?”
Frank kept his gaze fixed on the floor, his expression unreadable. “I heard you.”