<b>Chapter </b>41


    Before she decided to marry Frank, she’d asked around–more than a few people–trying to find out who his heart truly belonged to.


    No one ever told her.


    Those young men who seemed friendly enough on the surface were, in


    truth, all Frank’s friends. Naturally, not a single one of them would betray him.


    Left with no options, she finally called Rowan.


    She could still remember exactly what Rowan had said.


    Elissa rolled down the car window a crack. The cold night air came rushing in, biting at her skin and clearing her thoughts.


    That line came back to her atst.


    He’d said, “Miss Elissa, what exactly are we? Why should I answer your questions?”


    Without thinking, she hung up on him.


    After that, she blocked Rowan’s number for good.


    He’d warned her more than once: there was nothing between them. Maybe there never had been.


    The cold wind kept pouring into the car, chilling the inside until there was barely any difference from the freezing darkness outside.


    “Ridge, close the window.”


    Frank stirred awake from the cold, not even bothering to open his eyes, but already issuing orders, a true businessman to the bone.


    Elissa didn’t answer, but her hand moved to the controls and rolled the window all the way down.


    Cold, wasn’t it?


    <b>1/4 </b>


    12:12


    Good. Let him freeze.


    It was nearly 3:30 a.m. by the time they reached Greenwood Manor.


    Elissa stayed in the car, unmoving, and pulled out her phone to make a call.


    Being woken in the middle of the night by Elissa, Marcia was in no mood to be polite. “Are you okay? Do you even know what time it is?”


    “Come downstairs.”


    “For what?”


    Elissa nced into the rearview mirror, her gaze cool. “To pick up your lover.”


    “What?”


    A light flicked on in one of the upstairs guest rooms.


    Elissa kept it simple. “Frank.”


    That name worked like magic. Less than two minutester, the porch lights snapped on and Marcia came out the front door.


    Elissa still hadn’t moved, just urged her, “Hurry up.”


    She was desperate to get home and catch some sleep.


    Marcia yanked open the back door and found Frank sprawled drunkenly in the car. She frowned, “What were you two doing?”


    Elissa grinned. “If we’d done anything, would I have called you toe get him?”


    “What’s your angle?” Marcia eyed her suspiciously.


    Who in their right mind would deliver their own husband straight into the arms of a rival?


    Elissa nced at the time–her patience had run out. “If you don’t get him out now, I’ll take him back to my ce.”


    <i>211 </i>


    12:12


    Frank had been so preupied, he didn’t even know she’d moved out.


    But Marcia was nosy enough, and so intent on keeping tabs on her, she’d definitely have found out.


    Marcia couldn’t make sense of it. Elissa had always been the harmless, timid type–everyone knew it.


    How had she suddenly be so sharp, so unpredictable?


    Yet everyone else, Frank included, still saw her as sweet and gentle.


    She really did know how to put on an act.


    Marcia struggled for ages but couldn’t manage to move Frank–a six–foot–two man wasn’t exactly easy to haul. She shot a look at Elissa. “Aren’t you going to help?”


    “Oh, sure.”


    Elissa replied calmly. She got out, didn’t bother waiting for Marcia, and hauled Frank out of the car and onto the ground.


    Frank had drunk so much that when hended on thewn with a dull thud, he simply rolled over and settled back into afortable sleeping position.


    Marcia stared in disbelief. “Elissa, are you insane?!”


    “If you’re not insane and you’re so strong, you can carry him yourself.”


    Without another word, Elissa got in her car and drove away, leaving Marcia frozen on the frontwn, unable to process what had just happened.


    She just couldn’t figure it out–what was this woman really up to?


    ying hard to get?


    The next morning, as Marcia sat at breakfast, those words suddenly floated through her mind: ying hard to get.


    12:12


    Chapter <b>41 </b>


    And she had to admit–the tactic seemed to be working.


    Frank’s attitude was noticeably different.


    “Where’s Elissa? Bradley said she was the one who picked me upst


    night.” Frank came downstairs, looking worse for wear but still impossibly handsome, and took a seat across from Marcia.


    Marcia had her excuse ready. “She left early. Went to the clinic.”


    He looked surprised. “This early?”


    “Mm.” Marcia feigned calm and nodded.


    She’d keep the move a secret for as long as she could–no way would she let Elissa get her way.


    ying hard to get? Dream on.


    Frank’s stomach was still uneasy from all the alcohol. He nced over at Edna. “Edna, bring out that soothing soup Elissa made, would you?”