Besides Elissa, were there other women around him?
Frank’s tall frame stiffened for a split second. His ingrained wariness made him pause, eyes dimming as he replied, voice steady as ever, “Did you forget your childhood nickname?”
“Huh?”
Marcia hesitated, panic flickering in her eyes before she forced herself to stay calm. “Of course not. It’s just… No one’s called me that in so long, I didn’t realize you meant me.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
or eve
Her heart pounded, welling up with tears. “After my parents died, who else would ever call me that? Frank, it’s been twenty years… It’s
normal if I forgot, isn’t it?”
In a blink, tears spilled down her cheeks. “Are you really doubting me over this?”
“Of course not. Don’t overthink it.”
Frank let go of his suspicion and gently wiped her tears. His expression softened. “It’s gettingte. Go tuck Hickey in for bed.
Seeing his usual calm, Marcia finally rxed. “What about you?”
“I’ve got some work to finish up. I’ll turn in soon.”
Frank slipped the jade pendant into the pocket of his cks. “The sp. broke earlier–I’ll have Bernard take it to the jeweler tomorrow. I’ll return it once it’s fixed.”
Taking the fruit te Marcia handed him, he left for his study.
Almost as soon as the door clicked shut, he dialed a number.
All traces of warmth vanished from Frank’s face, his voice cold and
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out</b>.”
“Understood.”
Bernard hesitated. “Why check again after all these years? Did something
seem off?<b>” </b>
Frank replied, “I’m not sure. Just look into it.”
He could only hope he was overthinking things.
Frank’sst words, spoken over the phone, didn’t escape Tanya Foster, who was sitting nearby.
She frowned, genuinely surprised that someone like Frank–always so courteous and upstanding–could be so brazenly unfaithful.
Then, turning to Elissa, she asked, “Why not just agree and get it over with?”
“It’d be too much trouble,” Elissa replied, setting her phone aside and curling up on the sofa. “I went to see the Atwater family at noon. His mother said the divorce papers should be finalized within four days at
thetest.”
“There’s no need to go through him anymore.”
She had no desire toplicate things further.
This was fine.
The next day, Elissa met up with Cliff at the clinic first, and together they headed to Murphy Group.
She’d passed by this ce countless times over the years, never once. setting foot inside–she’d even gone out of her way to avoid it.
If it hadn’t been for that chance encounter in Germany, she might have hoped to never see Rowan again in this lifetime.
“Elissa?<b>” </b>
Cliff’s voice pulled her back as she stepped out of the car, lost in thought. He smiled, “What’s on your mind?”
Elissa gathered herself and shook her head. “Nothing. I just never imagined I’d get to be part of a project this big.”
Cancer drug research.
The government’s top–priority medical initiative for the next three years.
If it seeded, maybe…
Maybe she could finally be free.
By the time they arrived, the rest of the research team was already waiting in the conference room.
Scientists didn’t bother with small talk. Realmunication happened in theb. With the project just kicking off, there wasn’t much to say–just a round of introductions before someone led Elissa and Cliff to theb.
The Traditional Herbology Unit included Elissa, Cliff, and three men in theirte thirties or early forties.
“Unbelievable,” one muttered in the corner. “Almost forty and here I am, ying assistant to some kid in her twenties.”
“Hey, you resent it?”
“Of course I do. Don’t you?”
“I do too.”
They went back and forth, making sure Elissa overheard. “But what can you do? She probably has connections. These days, it’s easier for women. to climb thedder than men.”
Cliff’s face darkened, and he moved as if to confront them.
Elissa stopped him with a gentle touch, unfazed. “Cliff, the only thing. that’ll shut them up is what I develop myself.”