bThe /bphoto of the girl curled up in Frank’s arms.

    Rowan’s brow furrowed so tightly you’d think he could crush a mosquito between them. It took him a long moment topose himself before he spoke, voice dripping with sarcasm. “What could possibly be wrong with her? She’s perfectly fine. What she really needs is a trip to the hospital to get her hopelessly romantic brain checked out.”

    Frank just waved her over, and she practically ran back to him without a second thought.

    Hearing this,n knew that trying to smooth things over now would only make it worse, so he wisely changed the subject. “So, what about those kidnappers?”

    “The evidence is clear. Just hand them over to the police.”

    Catching the cold, biting tone from the back seat,n hesitated, then asked, “And… the rest? We’re not getting involved any further?”

    “Why should we?”

    That voice grew even more irritable, bristling with sparks. “Anyone who’s so eager to stick their nose in can do it themselves.”

    ” i11 /i

    If it was truly none of your concern, why would you fly halfway around the world without stopping to catch your breath?

    –

    When Elissa dropped that bombshell, the private room went deathly quiet for a good while.

    Bradley and the others exchanged looks, all wanting to ask something but not knowing where to

    startb. /b

    None of them had expected gentle, soft–spoken Elissa to end a marriage with such crisp decisiveness.

    But really, she wasn’t the one who owed them any exnations.

    Elissa was already uneasy, so she simply stood up. “I need to use the restroom.”

    The door opened and closed behind her just as quickly.

    Frank’s gaze lingered for a moment on the flutter of pale yellow fabric vanishing through the doorway. When he looked back, he found his friends giving him a mixture of wide–eyed stares. He just smiled, unbothered, and saidzily, “She’s got a temper, that one. She’s divorcing me, apparently.”

    Bradley seized on the key point. “Apparently? So it’s just talk of divorce?”

    “Yep.” Frank nodded calmly. “I don’t agree to it. How’s she supposed bto /bget divorced on her bown/bb?/bb” /b

    Just like that, he brushed the whole matter aside with a few casual words.

    The others didn’t push it. After all, marriage and divorce both needed two signatures–Elissa wasn’t going anywhere on her own.

    Still, no one could quite believe how quickly things had turned around. Three years ago, Elissa had been the one determined to marry Frank. Now, it was Frank who seemed desperate to win her back.

    Bradley threw him a look and said, “If you ask me, whatever trouble she gives you is exactly what you deserve. Maybe you should just grant the divorce, let her breathe a little.”

    “No.” Frank’s eyes turned icy, his answer immediate and final.

    Giving her “room to breathe” was just an open invitation for someone else to swoop in. He couldn’t let that happen.

    Elissa stepped out of the private room and felt the tension in her body ease, if only a little.

    Thesest couple of days at Greenwood Manor, she’d felt out of ce, unable to rx, yet unable to

    leave.

    She let out a slow breath and headed toward the restroom. Just as she reached the corner, she saw a group emerging from the elevator at the far end of the hall–and instantly recognized the tall, distinguished figure at the front.

    He really hade back.

    Frank hadn’t lied to her this time.

    Elissa hesitated, her steps faltering, her heart heavy as if it were a sponge soaked through.

    At the head of the group was Matriarch Paige Murphy, chatting warmly with Lorraine’s parents, while Lorraine herself followed alongside Rowan, just as she always did at work.

    A perfect match–family background, talent, looks.

    As Elissa quietly withdrew her gaze, the man’s dark, fathomless eyes seemed to flicker in her direction for the briefest moment.

    For a heartbeat, their eyes seemed to meet–or perhaps they hadn’t at all.

    b14:28 /b