<b>Chapter </b><b>94 </b>


    “Why are you backing out now?”


    Carm smiled, her tone light but her eyes watchful. “What if, after I hand you the divorce papers, you suddenly decide <i>not </i><i>to </i>keep the whole thing quiet? What am I supposed to do then?”


    Elissa reminded her, “We signed an agreement, remember?”


    “Agreements like that–well, they only bind honest people.”


    The implication was clear: Carm was calling Elissa dishonest, but Elissa didn’t rise to the bait. “So when can I get them?”


    Carm’s voice turned airy. “When Frank’s ready to get remarried…”


    “That’s not going to happen,” Elissa said tly, fixing her with a look. “I only agreed to keep things quiet for a while, until you found someone suitable for him. Whether Frank’s willing or not–that’s too unpredictable. I’m not going to waste my time waiting.”


    “Come on, the divorce is already finalized. Does it really matter to you when it gets announced, or when you actually get the papers?”


    “It <i>does</i>,” Elissa replied, her voice firm. Every day the secretsted, she was, <i>on </i>paper, still Mrs. Frank Atwater. She had to keep up appearances for Frank’s sake, ying the dutiful wife. But after everything that had happenedtely, all she wanted was to draw a clear boundary as soon as possible.


    Carm hadn’t expected her precious son to be seen as little more than baggage Elissa couldn’t wait to unload. She clenched her jaw, barely containing her anger. “One month,” she said tightly. “After Valentine’s Day, alright?”


    She emphasized the point. With the holiday season, she’d have plenty of opportunities to introduce Frank to other eligible women–one of whom, she hoped, might finally catch his eye.


    Elissa lowered her gaze, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”


    <i>1/2 </i>


    09:52


    Chapter <b>94 </b>


    But she needed to check something first.


    Stepping out of the study, she pulled up the photo of the divorce


    certificate Carm had sent her the day before and forwarded it to Tanya Foster.


    [Tanya, can you verify if this divorce certificate is real?]


    [Holy crap?! You have the certificate already?]


    Tanya replied instantly. [You think it might be fake?]


    [Ny percent sure it’s real,] Elissa wrote. But she wasn’t about to let thatst ten percent ruin everything.


    Upstairs, the entire Atwater family had gathered on the second floor to celebrate Old Mrs. Atwater’s birthday. Even Marcia was there, standing


    off to one side.


    As Elissa approached, she heard the olddy call out, “Elissa, there you are! Where did you run off to? I’ve been waiting for you.”


    “I was just chatting with Mom for a bit,” Elissa replied sweetly. She handed over the carefully wrapped gift she’d prepared that morning, her smile bright and courteous. “Happy birthday, Grandma. Wishing you health and a long, happy life.”


    “Oh, what a good girl!” the olddy beamed, patting Elissa’s hand warmly. “Go sit next to Frank.”


    There just happened to be an empty seat beside him. Elissa kept her eyes down and walked over, but before she could sit, Marcia spoke up.


    “Grandma, Hickey’s been begging toe home for your birthday, but he got hurt a few days ago He’s still in the hospital and couldn’t make it.”


    “Hickey’s hurt?” The old woman’s face grew serious. “What happened?”


    After all, Hickey was the only child left by her eldest grandson, and while the Atwaters could be cold when angry, now that tempers had cooled, concern came flooding back.


    <b>09.53 </b>


    Frank immediately nced at Marcia, eyes warning her to stop talking.


    The olddy might usually be gentle, but she ran a tight ship. If this story got out, Elissa would take the fall.


    Marcia hesitated, as if she wanted to speak but thought better of it. “Maybe you should ask Elissa…”


    The olddy frowned. “Ask Elissa? What’s this got to do with her?”


    “Grandma…please, don’t make me say it.” Marcia looked wounded, as if caught between fear and indignation.


    The old woman mmed her hand on the table. “When did you be so spineless? I want the truth–out with it!”


    Marcia finally relented, her face painted with reluctant helplessness. “Elissa pushed Hickey down the stairs. He’s been in the hospital for days, and the cut on his head still hasn’t healed.”


    <b>Chapter </b><b>95 </b>