<b>Chapter </b><b>6 </b>


    Frank’s brow furrowed slightly. “You mean Elissa?”


    “That’s right.”


    Marcia bit her lower lip. “Do you know why Hickey ruined Grandpa’sst painting? It was because she deliberately egged him on.”


    “Mom’s right!” Hickey pouted, hisshes wet with tears. “Uncle, Aunt Elissa tried to scare me again today. She told me that a monster who’d eat my arm was hiding inside that painting. That’s why I-”


    “That’s impossible.”


    Frank cut him off, reaching out to ruffle Hickey’s hair with gentle affection. “Hickey, are you sure you didn’t mishear? Your Aunt Elissa is the kindest one in our family. She already told youst night she wasn’t mad at you anymore. She wouldn’t try to frighten you


    again.”


    “And besides, Grandpa adored her when he was alive. She’d never mess around with his paintings.”


    He directed thosest words at Marcia.


    Marcia stared at him in disbelief. “Are you saying Hickey and I are making this


    nder her?”


    <i>up </i>to


    “Frank! You’ve changed so much!”


    The usation made something hot re in Frank’s chest, but as he met her disappointed gaze, he forced himself to stay calm. “Marcia, I haven’t changed–not one bit.”


    She fixed him with a cold look. “Can you honestly say you’ve never felt anything for Elissa? That you’ve never touched her, not even once?”


    Frank had always believed he had a clear conscience before her. But faced with this question, the words caught in his throat.


    His back stiffened,shes lowered. “I haven’t touched her.”


    If anyone owed Elissa an apology, it was him.


    –“I haven’t touched her.”


    Elissa was justing downstairs, one hand pressed to her lower back, the other holding a gift box, when she heard those words–in, unvarnished, with no room for doubt.


    She gave a small, self–mocking smile, then kept walking. “Frank, tomorrow night is the


    13:28


    Murphy family dinner. Grandma asked if you’re free to join us.”


    Matriarch Paige Murphy, an old friend of Elissa’ste parents, had taken her in after they passed away. To outsiders, Elissa was practically one of the Murphys herself. Even after she married into the Atwater family, the Murphys maintained close business ties with


    them.


    After her question, Frank–maybe still feeling guilty from earlier–agreed right away. “Sure. I’ll pick you up tomorrow and we’ll go together.”


    “Okay.”


    Elissa nced at the gift box, then at the mother and son sitting beside Frank, and wisely held her tongue, heading for the door.


    Tanya Foster had just won her big court case that day and wanted to <i>take </i>Elissa shopping to celebrate. But when she heard about Elissa’s limp, she switched ns–dinner only, no walking.


    “Elissa.”


    Frank spoke her name before he could stop himself. “What’s that you’re holding?”


    She turned, lifting the box with a small shake. “A present.”


    “A present? Is it someone’s birthday today?”


    “It’s for our third wedding anniversary. I was going to give it to you.”


    “Elissa, I’m sorry-”


    “It’s fine. You’ve been busy, it’s normal to forget.”


    She looked at him with that same clear, unwavering gaze as always, and handed him the box. Her voice was soft, almost gentle. “Anyway, your birthday’s in a couple of weeks. You can count it as an early gift.“.


    “Frank, happy birthday–early.”


    And quietly, to herself: Here’s to me, too. Happy divorce.


    <b><i>2/2 </i></b>


    A