Too busy ying the knight in shining armor.


    Too busy fussing over his sweetheart.


    A couple of days ago, Tanya Foster dropped by with afternoon tea for Elissa. The moment she stepped inside, she gave Frank an earful.


    And who could me her?


    She’d walked in on Frank in the VIP room, doting over Marcia as if she were made of ss.


    The next morning, Elissa finished her discharge paperwork without a hitch.


    Cliff, ever the worrier, sent her a message to check in.


    [Elissa, want me to pick you up from the hospital?]


    [Cliff, don’t trouble yourself. Tanya Foster’s taking me to the airport.]


    Elissa replied as she stepped into the elevator.


    She’d just reached the underground parking lot when she caught a familiar voice echoing


    from the stairwell.


    It was Frank, on the phone.


    “You think I still don’t know her well enough? I really didn’t expect she’d get into a fight with


    Marcia.”


    Whoever was on the other end must have said something sharp, because Frank sounded weary as he replied, “I never intended for her to be left out in the cold, and there’s no way I’m divorcing her.”


    The voice on the phone suddenly jumped an octave, “No way! Little Elissa beat up your precious Marcia and you’re not even thinking about divorce?”


    There was a brief pause, then the friend snickered, “Wait, don’t tell me you’re actually catching feelings for little Elissa?”


    “Give it a rest,” Frank muttered.


    He hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “If I divorced her now, the gossip alone would drown Marcia. And after all the rumorstely… my family would never let her off


    the hook.”


    Elissa heard every self–sacrificing word, and couldn’t help but smile silently.


    13:32


    She’d always known his reasons.


    But hearing them out loud still stung in a way she hadn’t expected.


    Frank continued, “I promised I’d always protect her.”


    “…You mean that old childish promise?”


    His friend scoffed, “Come on, you two barely met as kids. Are <i>you </i>sure you’re not confusing her with someone else? Anyway, see you tonight at the usual spot?”


    Frank’s reply was cool. “Not tonight. I’m noting out with <i>you </i>guys.”


    “Celebrating Marcia’s birthday?”


    “With Elissa. I asked the doctor–she insisted on being discharged today. I guess she wants to spend my birthday with me. I’ll pick her up and take her home soon.”


    Frank’s tone softened, almost fond. “She even prepared a birthday present for me, and tonight-”


    Before he could finish, Elissa spotted Tanya Foster’s car pulling up outside the elevator.


    She didn’t linger. She slipped away without a word.


    She wouldn’t be going home with him. Tonight, the only one opening that divorce agreement would be Frank himself.


    That ce she once thought of as home–it was nothing more than a convenient facade.


    A curtain hiding all of Frank’s secrets.


    But <i>once </i><i>he </i>unwrapped her gift, he’d know–she was done with him.


    When Elissa got in the car, Tanya pointed to the back seat. “I picked up your things from Edna. Check if anything’s missing.”


    One suitcase and a backpack. Elissa only bothered to unzip the backpack.


    All her documents and essentials were there.


    She shook her head. “No, that’s everything. Let’s head to the airport.”


    “Alright.”


    Tanya tapped the gas, steering them out of the lot.


    Some unexinable urge made Elissa nce back toward the stairwell.


    Frank had just stepped out, tall as ever, with those gentle eyes and that easy grace she


    remembered so well.


    213


    13:32


    Tanya nced at her in the rearview mirror. “What are you looking at?”


    “Nothing.”


    The car slipped out of the garage. Morning sunlight streamed through the windshield, and Elissa let out a softugh. “It’s such a beautiful day.”


    “Yeah, it’s been ages since we’ve seen the sun.”


    No one can resist winter sunshine. Tanya kept her eyes on the road, but raised an eyebrow at Elissa. “You’re in a good mood for someone heading overseas. We’ve traveled plenty of times before, but I’ve never seen you this happy. What’s different?”


    “Tanya,”


    Elissa rolled down the window, slipped off her wedding ring, and tossed it out into the morning air. “This time is different.”


    This time,


    before leaving, she’d been Mrs. Frank–someone’s human shield, a name on a marriage


    license.


    But when she returned, she’d just be Elissa.


    Simply Elissa, and nothing else.