Those four wordsing from him didn’t surprise Elissa in the slightest.


    Back when she’d decided to marry Frank, Rowan had tried every way to stop her, just like this.


    naware


    But Rowan had always lived in his own rarefied world, blissfully that for someone like her, marrying Frank had already been the best she could hope for.


    He never understood that divorce, for her, wasn’t something light and breezy.


    If Frank ever wanted to end things and she refused, he had a thousand ways–legal, underhanded, or just in ruthless–to make it happen. She might wake <b>up </b>one day and find the divorce papers already signed and stamped, without ever knowing what hit her.


    But for her?


    As long as the Atwaters wouldn’t relent and Frank didn’t agree, she’d be trapped in the Atwater family for the rest of her life, wasting away one day at a time.


    During those years with the Murphys, Elissa had learned one lesson better than any other: ordinary people are utterly powerless in the face of real power.


    She had no interest in exining herself. Instead, she just gave a faint smile, a charming dimple flickering at the corner of her lips. “But… I just. can’t bear to leave him.”


    There she was again, ying the hopeless romantic.


    Rowan’s face darkened instantly, his voice squeezed out between clenched teeth. “Elissa, did I ever mistreat you before?”


    He didn’t even wait for her reply. He stubbed out his cigarette, turned on his heel, and stalked off, tension in every step, anger still practically radiating from his back.


    -Driving people away.


    Over the years, this had be the simplest form ofmunication between her and Rowan.


    Cliff appeared, looking around. “I thought you’d already left.”


    “Has everyone gone?” she asked.


    “They have.” He hesitated for a second, then added, “Frank and the others.


    too.”


    She nodded, taking her bag from him. “Alright, let’s go.”


    Cliff had been drinking, so Elissa offered to drive him home.


    Just as they were nearing his ce, Cliff seemed to remember something. “Oh right, about that Murphy Group project–we’re supposed to have a kickoff meeting tomorrow and prep a bit.”


    At the mention of this, Elissa’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.


    “Murphy Group probably forgot to tell you, but I’m not supposed to be on


    to tell you, but I’m not that project anymore,” she said quietly.


    Besides, after today, Rowan probably wanted nothing more than for her to disappear.


    Cliff frowned. “That can’t be right. The team list came over just this evening from Murphy Group, and your name’s on it.“.


    Elissa blinked in surprise.


    Of course–Murphy Group had dozens of big projects. Rowan couldn’t possibly oversee every single one himself. Maybe he didn’t even care whether <b>she </b>was involved.


    Relief washed over <b>her</b>. “That’s great news.”


    Cliff grinned. “And actually, you’re heading up the Traditional Herbology Unit.”


    “Why?” Elissa blurted out, caught off guard.


    <b>2/3 </b>


    09:47


    By all rights, that role should have gone to Cliff.


    Luckily, Cliff didn’t mind. “Murphy Group’s decision. But honestly, you’re al better fit than me. You’ve always had a knack for drug development.”


    That best–selling herbal remedy at the clinic? Elissa had developed it, though they’d put Cliff’s name on it to avoid drawing the Murphy family’s


    attention.


    Meanwhile, Marcia was still stewing over what had happened earlier, the frustration lodged in her chest, suffocating and impossible to swallow.


    On the drive back to Greenwood Manor, she nced at the silent man beside her and said, “See? I told you, Elissa isn’t nearly as na?ve as you


    think.”


    Frank said nothing. The alcohol throbbed behind his temples, a dull ache. He had to admit, Elissa had gone too far today. He was willing to indulge her in almost anything, but as Mrs. Frank Atwater, the one thing she. needed to understand was how to maintain appearances.


    “When she gets home tonight, I’ll have a word with her.”


    “Oh, and Frank-” Marcia’s annoyance faded as soon as she got the answer she wanted. “I heard from a colleague that Elissa and Cliff are joining a new drug research project. Can you pull some strings and get me in too?”


    “Of course,” Frank agreed easily. “You’ve always had talent–if it’s just to participate, I can talk to the Rileys about it.”


    Marcia scooted closer, wrapping her arms around his. “Do you really think I have talent? At the clinic, everyone only praises Elissa…”


    “She’s just been at this longer than you,” Frank replied, matter–of–fact. He remembered their old mentor alwaysplimenting Marcia. “If we’re talking pure talent and ability, you’re definitely the better one.”