A sharp buzzing filled Tanya Foster’s mind.


    She never expected Elissa–usually so reserved–to spit out those words.


    But what shocked her even more was Frank. That scumbag had found a whole new way


    to humiliate someone.


    Tanya muttered a curse under her breath. “Forget the courier–I’ll bring it to you myself. I’ll drop it off and head straight back to work.”


    There was no way a bike courier could outrun her car.


    After she hung up, Elissa was stunned at her own bluntness. Maybe that anger had just been stuck in her chest for too long, making everything inside her feel jammed and suffocating.


    It was just like that night at the club, when Frank told her–calm as could be–that he’d never touched her. Who would believe it? Married three years, and still a virgin.


    ht


    At first, she wondered if something was wrong with him. But then she’d caught him–more than once–in his study, clutching a photo album and taking care of himself. The low, muffled sounds he made were like one p after another across her face.


    Once, when Frank realized she’d seen, he drew her into his arms, pressing his face into her neck, whispering, “Little Elissa, I’m sorry. I just can’t bear the thought of hurting you. I can only… look at your pictures…”


    The saddest part? She’d believed him. She’d even blushed.


    But the night she rushed back to Vistapeak City, burning with fever, she forced herself upright, crept into his study, <i>and </i><i>broke </i>open the locked cab.


    She found the album.


    Every page was Marcia, Lively, captivating, radiant Marcia. Every smile, every nce, Frank had cherished them all.


    Elissa felt like the punchline to a cruel joke.


    Drifting back in memory, she recalled following Frank around like a shadow–but really, it was just because her brother was always with him. Over time, she started to think marrying him would be wonderful. Frank had always been patient and gentle, the most considerate of all her brother’s friends, never forgetting to bring her a little gift.


    It was this perfect gentleman who would rather pleasure himself over photos of his sister–inw than touch the wife who slept beside him.


    13:28


    Elissa never imagined Tanya would arrive so quickly.


    She’d barely finished washing up when the doorbell rang–Tanya’s urgency made it seem like, if city hall hadn’t already closed, she’d drag Elissa and Frank there to finalize the paperwork right then and there.


    Elissa finally felt a bit of relief as she took the agreement in her hands, only for a sharp crash to echo from upstairs.


    Before she could react, Edna hurried down, looking distressed and hesitating. “Ma’am…”


    “What is it?”


    “The family photo you kept in your bedroom… Hickey broke it.”


    Elissa thought it was only the frame. But when Edna handed her several torn pieces, she went pale.


    She’d lost her parents in an ident when she was five. That photo was all she had left of them–her only real keepsake.


    Clutching the shredded photograph, Elissa marched upstairs, her jaw set.


    At that moment, Marcia stepped from Elissa’s room, her son in her arms.