She’d only promised Carm not to mention divorce to Frank–she never agreed to keep living under the same roof.


    On the drive back to Greenwood Manor, Frank sat in the back seat, gaze unfocused, lost somewhere in the distance.


    Marcia reached over and shook his arm. “Frankie, what are you daydreaming about?”


    Ever since they got in the car, he’d been distracted. Who knew what Elissa had said to him this time?


    “Nothing,” Frank said, snapping back to the present. He rubbed his brow just as the car passed by the clinic where Elissa worked.


    An expression of helpless resignation flickered across his face.


    She must be going through a rebellious phase, he thought. Lately, she’d been more defiant than ever.


    Marcia didn’t miss the shift in his expression. She followed his gaze, instantly alert as she nced toward the clinic.


    The clinic… If she remembered correctly, Elissa worked there as a physician.


    Carm, clearly worried Elissa might stir up trouble, wasted no time sending over the money and arranging for someone to apany her for the property transfer.


    By noon, after a whirlwind of paperwork, Elissa was holding two property deeds in her hands.


    Juniper Road–one of the most exclusive streets in Vistapeak City.


    Tanya Foster, suspicious that something was off, had taken the day off to go with her. To her surprise, the entire process was above board and went off without a hitch.


    Walking out of the real estate office, Tanya grabbed Elissa’s arm and squealed, “You’re loaded! I give up–I need a sugar mama!”


    Elissaughed, ruffling Tanya’s hair. “Sure, sure. Want to move in with me?”


    Tanya’s eyes lit up. She grinned. “Move in? Nah, I’m workingte every night–I’d drive you nuts. But… maybe I could crash for a few days, just to see how the rich live.”


    Without even stopping for lunch, the two of them hurried off to Juniper Road, dragging their suitcases behind them.


    14:48


    The delivery Elissa had ordered arrived just as they got there.


    Tanya devoured her meal with relish. “This ce has the best spicy food. I can never get this stuff delivered to my ce–have to eat in every time.”


    She leaned back with a sigh. “I swear, I could just move in and never leave.”


    “Then don’t leave,” Elissa said, grinning.


    “No way!” Tanya flopped onto the sofa, rubbing her stomach.


    Elissa tidied up the takeout containers, then paused, fixing Tanya with a curious look. “Why not? You have a secret boyfriend?”


    “Please. Men just get in the way of making money.”


    Tanya’s childhood had been a mess, and she’d always known exactly what she wanted.


    “Then why won’t you live with me?” Elissa pressed.


    “I’m not seeing anyone, but you still are,” Tanya said, giving her a knowing look. “I just have a feeling–it won’t be that easy for you and Frank to split for good.”


    “Why not?”


    “Woman’s intuition.”


    “Well, your intuition sucks,” Elissa shot back as she started unpacking. “He’s into Marcia, you know that. The only reason he’s dragging this out is to spare Marcia from bad gossip.”


    “And how’s that?”


    “He doesn’t want her getting med for breaking up our marriage.”


    But once Carm delivered the divorce papers, whatever Frank wanted wouldn’t matter anymore. Elissa was done letting herself be a pawn in someone else’s game.


    Tanya got up and helped her unpack.


    As they worked, Elissa pulled out her phone and started ordering housewares and kitchen supplies online.


    Watching the new house slowly take on the warmth of a real home, Elissa felt her heart settle bit by bit, she was finally starting to feel grounded.


    But as it turned out, the person most excited about her sessful divorce wasn’t Elissa herself.


    The moment the news broke, someone else rushed to the clinic to wait for her to finish work.