The sudden sound drew everyone’s attention.


    All eyesnded on the shattered phone screen, the angry red mark blooming across a pale hand, and Elissa’s eyes, now suspiciously rimmed with tears.


    Anyone with half a brain could tell she’d just been bullied–badly<i>. </i>She looked absolutely pitiful.


    Frank came over, his brows furrowed, and picked up the broken phone for her. “What happened?”


    Marcia wanted to me Elissa, but now she realized she didn’t even know where to begin.


    Was she supposed to say Elissa had stood up for her, but she’dshed out anyway and pped Elissa?


    In the end, all she could do was re at the two girls nearby. “They were talking trash about me behind my back–saying some really nasty things!”


    The two girls looked like they wanted to melt right into the floor and disappear.


    Who could have guessed that Frank’s two women would both be so damn difficult?


    Especially Elissa,


    She always seemed so meek and easy to push around, but the moment you crossed her, she’d bite back with a vengeance–like a rabbit with fangs.


    Next time, they’d steer clear of her for sure.


    Elissa took her phone back and turned to Marcia, repeating her words in that same gentle, sensible tone:


    “Come on, Marcia, maybe we should just let it go. I probably overreacted, and maybe they were just joking around. It’s Bradley’s birthday party; let’s not make a scene.”


    She was the one with the broken phone and the handprint stinging on her skin, yet here she was,forting the very person who’dshed out.


    Hearing her own words thrown back at her, Marcia almost choked on her indignation. She wanted to scream but could hardly utter a sound–her anger stuck in her throat, impossible to swallow or spit out.


    She was fuming, but with so many people watching, making a bigger fuss would only make her look worse.


    Digging her fingernails into her palm, she–managed to force a smile. “You’re right. We shouldn’t stoop to their level.”


    Frank’s expression was unreadable. “Apologize.”


    The two girls looked as if they had just been pardoned by the governor. They bowed their heads, mumbling, “Sorry, sorry…”


    Marcia immediately tried to regain herposure and act gracious. “Forget it, it’s fine…”


    “I meant <i>you</i>,” Frank interrupted, his gaze dropping to the angry welt on Elissa’s hand. “Apologize to Elissa.”


    Marcia’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.


    She looked stunned, ncing at Frank as if she couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “What did you say?”


    Frank frowned, moving to stand between them, as if he was worried Elissa might retaliate with some clever twist of her own.


    “Elissa,” he said quietly, “Marcia has a bit of a temper. I apologize on her behalf…”


    She’d been struck—and now, in front of everyone, her supposed husband was apologizing for someone else.


    Everyone in the room could see where his loyaltiesy.


    Elissa’s clear eyes lingered on him for a moment, then a trace of irony touched her lips. “It’s fine.”


    With that, she slipped her phone into her purse, took out a small velvet box, and walked over to Bradley, her smile suddenly warm and sincere. “Happy birthday, Bradley!”


    “There’s an emergency at the clinic, so Tanya and I have to go.”


    She took Tanya Foster by the hand and walked out.


    Frank watched her figure disappear through the doorway, a strange emptiness blooming in his chest.


    Thatst smile of hers…


    Something was wrong.


    It was as if she’d finally given up on him.


    A sudden sense of panic made Frank take a step after her, but right then Marcia twisted her ankle and clung to his arm with a pained gasp. “Ouch–Frank, help me, will you?”


    Frank paused, his eyes catching on the jade pendant that slipped from Marcia’s cor as she leaned on him. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought.


    Once they were seated on the couch, Marcia looked at him. “What’s wrong?”


    “Nothing.”


    “Worried that Elissa’s mad at you?”


    Marcia kept her own feelings in check, her voice soft and soothing. “Didn’t you always say she’s so gentle and considerate? She wouldn’t be upset


    over something so trivial.”


    That was true.


    <b>3/4 </b>


    12.16


    Frank reyed the scene in his mind. The girl hadn’t even shed a tear.


    She was probably fine.


    Outside, Tanya Foster quickly grabbed Elissa’s hand and examined it, worry etched across her face. “Does it hurt?”