<b>Chapter </b><b>38 </b>


    The car merged into the city traffic, the bustle and blur of downtown lights slowly peeling away the darkness of night.


    Elissa had barely spoken since she got in. She sat quietly, nestled against the seat, her gaze fixed on the cityscape rushing by outside the window,


    not even blinking.


    After more than four years of knowing her, Cliff hade to recognize her not just as sensible and mature, but as someone with an inner resilience that most peoplecked. She reminded him of a wildflower thriving in rough weather–no matter the storm, she always found a way


    to bloom.


    But tonight felt different.


    She didn’t say a word, but Cliff could sense the sadness radiating from


    her.


    At a red light, he pressed the brake gently and broke the silence. “You okay?”


    The truth was, she wasn’t.


    Rowan had brushed everything off so easily, like none of it had ever happened. It made Elissa feel as though she was the petty one, the one holding grudges, trapped in a past everyone else had moved on from.


    She’d never beenfortable opening up about her feelings. She managed a small, practiced smile. “I’m fine.”


    “If anything’s wrong, you can always talk to me.”


    Cliff knew where <i>to </i>draw the line and didn’t push further, but his concern lingered. “Elissa, if <i>you </i>go head–to–head with Rowan, you’re going to get hurt.”


    He meant every word.


    A mess of emotions churned inside her. After a long, thoughtful pause,


    1211.)


    she finally replied, her voice soft. “I know.”


    She couldn’t exin it–when Frank cheated, she’d kept herposure. But with Rowan, she lost control so easily.


    Later that night, back home, she talked it over with Tanya Foster. Tanya didn’t even need to think.


    “You know why?” Tanya swept a pile of case files off the coffee table, a knowing look on her face. “You trusted Rowan with your whole heart for nine years. With Frank, you were only ever trying to trust him, and he let you down before you could fully let go.”


    “You hadn’t even had the chance to give him everything, and he already rejected it.”


    She took a sip of her Americano, waggled her finger for dramatic effect, then delivered her verdict. “It’s all about emotional investment. That’s


    what hurts the most.”


    After her shower that night, Elissay in bed, Tanya’s words echoing in


    her mind.


    Cloud Peak Private Club.


    Unlike most clubs that imed to be exclusive, Cloud Peak’s doors didn’t open for just any rich socialite.


    It was the haunt of politicians, entrepreneurs, and city elite.


    At the <i>end </i>of a corridor,ughter and chatter spilled from a private suite crowded with men and women.


    Inside, Bradley Wheeler frowned at Frank. “Let’s forget the past for a minute. You got in a fight over Marcia and made little Elissa clean up your mess. Are you out of your mind?”


    “How is that any different from making her hand you condoms at the bedside? Didn’t she lose it with you?”


    12:11 @


    “Nope.”


    Frank swirled the brown liquor in his ss, a crooked smile on his lips. “She just asked if I could cut things off with Marcia. She’s my sister–inw–how am I supposed to do that?”


    Bradley clicked his tongue. “Sister–inw or something else, you all know the truth. Don’t push little Elissa too far, or one day she’ll divorce you.”


    Elissa had always been gentle and understanding; only that time in the hospital had she lost her temper and smashed a bottle over Marcia’s


    head.


    Frank shook his head. “She won’t.”


    She’d been devoted for so many years–there was no way she’d walk out without a fight, no tears, just leave him.


    Bradley, who’d grown up with Frank, set his ss down hard. “Don’t take advantage of her just because she doesn’t have family backing her up. She was raised by Rowan, after all.”


    A friend at the card table chimed inzily, “She and Rowan have been at odds for years. I doubt Rowan would get involved now.”


    “She and I are at odds?”


    Just then, the door swung open. Rowan leaned against the frame, one hand in his pocket, eyes heavy–lidded and cool. “Did she tell you that? Or


    did I?”


    There was a sharp edge to his words.


    The man at the table looked up, startled. He shot to his feet, cards forgotten.


    “Mr. Rowan…<b>” </b>


    212