<b>Chapter </b>16


    When he stood before her, the sharpness in his eyes softened, reced by a tangle of


    unreadable emotions.


    “You’re back,” he said quietly.


    Elissa took a small step back, her voice gentle as always. “Have you eaten? Edna made


    dinner…”


    “Elissa.”


    He cut her off, carefully choosing his words, his tone clouded and uncertain. “What’s going on online isn’t what it looks like. I can exin.”


    “Okay.”


    Elissa nodded without hesitation, her voice calm. “I believe you.”


    Frank froze.


    He’d always known Elissa was easygoing, but this time, he’d prepared himself for anything.


    Before he came home, his so–called friends had warned him he was done for.


    No matter how mild–tempered a woman might be, no wife would tolerate her husband cheating.


    Yet Elissa was unmoved.


    No tears. No arguments.


    It was strange.


    A sense of unease swept over Frank. Her effortless trust didn’t feel right.


    He frowned, and a word crept into his mind.


    -Indifference.


    Elissa didn’t care whether he had cheated or not.


    Didn’t care if he’d kissed another woman.


    Her face betrayed nothing, just as it always did. She slipped on a jacket. “I’m going to the hospital to see Grandma,”


    “Elissa…”


    Frank couldn’t shake the feeling that something precious was slipping further and further


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    from him.


    Almost involuntarily, he reached out and caught her slender wrist, probing gently, “You’re not the least bit angry?”


    Elissa paused, a little surprised.


    For a moment, she wondered if being Mrs. Frank Atwater was really all it was cracked up


    to be.


    She’d thought her reaction would be a relief for Frank.


    But he wasn’t satisfied.


    He wanted her to be angry.


    Frank waited anxiously for her answer, but she only looked at him coolly.


    She spoke slowly, “If I got angry, would you really cut ties with your sister–inw?”


    Frank’s expression grew awkward, but he still replied, “Elissa, believe it or not, there’s nothing going on between us.”


    “After the birthday party, I’ll ask her to move out.”


    “And you?”


    Elissa asked quietly.


    Frank’s brows knit in frustration. “What are you talking about? Of course I’ll still live


    here–with us.”


    He seemed to want to emphasize his point, speaking intently. “Elissa, I’m your husband.”


    “Frank.”


    But Elissa just gave a faint smile. “I wasn’t asking about your address. I meant your heart.”


    He was caught off guard. In that moment, Elissa gently pulled her hand free, grabbed her keys, and left.


    By the time she got <i>to </i>the hospital, Mrs. Atwater was already asleep.


    With nowhere else to go, Elissa wandered the city in her car, aimless and adrift.


    Like someone with no home to return to.


    No–she corrected herself.


    She never really had a home.


    It was nearly midnight when Elissa finally made her way back.


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    The house was silent. Edna had left the hallway light on for her.


    As she passed by the study on the second floor, she noticed light leaking out from under the door.


    Muffled voices, tense and low. Marcia was crying.


    Elissa looked away, pretending not to notice. She went to her room and took a long, hot shower.


    Sitting on the edge of the bed, she began to dry her hair. Suddenly, the mattress dipped behind her, and arge hand gently took the hair dryer from her grasp.


    Elissa froze, uncertain what to do.


    To outsiders, she and Frank were the perfect couple–polite, harmonious, never so much. as a raised voice.


    But no one knew the truth: there had hardly ever been any intimacy between them.


    Frank always kept his distance.


    She’d been slow to realize, never quite understanding the difference between being busy and being absent.


    She’d thought Frank was simply overwhelmed with work, too busy to pay attention to his new wife–so busy he spent most nights in the study.


    Now, Frank’s fingers moved deftly through her hair, drying it for her.


    Elissa stood abruptly, sidestepping his touch, and turned to face him. The words slipped out before she could stop them. “Is there something you want to tell me?”


    She couldn’t help how blunt she sounded.


    Frank’s behavior tonight was so out of character.


    “Elissa…”


    Frank switched off the hair dryer. He hesitated, then finally spoke. “I need you to help rify things online.”


    S/3


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