Elissa was still feeling out of ce when Lorraine suddenly appeared in front of her, reaching out and grabbing her hand with easy familiarity. “You remember me, right?”


    Elissa nodded. “Of course.”


    Rowan’s assistant.


    Most people would have found it surprising–Rowan always seemed so distant, the type to draw a hard line between business and personal life, hardly the sort to get involved with a subordinate.


    But Elissa knew better. Rowan did whatever he pleased.


    When he wanted to indulge someone, he didn’t care about boundaries. He’d keep them close as an employee, or, if it suited him, he’d willingly


    work under them instead.


    He had this uncanny ability to spoil someone rotten–until, out of nowhere, he’d let them crash and burn.


    And then…


    He’d walk away without a second thought.


    Lorraine was all warmth. “I’d heard Mr. Murphy had a sister, but I never imagined it was you.”


    “Yeah…”


    Elissa fumbled for words. “I didn’t expect it either.”


    Her voice came out soft, and Lorraine leaned in, smiling. “Sorry, what did you say?”


    “Oh, nothing.”


    It was clear Lorraine genuinely wanted to get along.


    00.53


    Back when Rowan still cared about her, Elissa had never been short of girls eager to cozy up. Being Rowan’s sister made her the shortcut for anyone wanting to get close to him.


    But now, her rtionship with Rowan was worse than that of casual


    acquaintances.


    There was no reason for Lorraine to bother.


    Sensing Elissa’s distance, Lorraine just smiled and let it go.


    As the birthday dinner wound down, Elissa tried to slip away, but Carm caught her, insisting she help see the guests out.


    By the time everyone had left, that familiar Maybach had already vanished.


    The butler looked ufortable as he exined, “Mrs. Spencer had an allergic reaction to something she ate. Mr. Frank took her to the hospital.” “I see.”


    Elissa declined the butler’s offer to call her a car, preferring to leave on


    her own.


    It was easier to call a taxi now than make up some excuse halfway and double back to Juniper Road.


    “Elissa?”


    She’d just left the gated neighborhood and reached the main road to hail a cab when a Bentley pulled up beside her. The rear window slid down. Lorraine peered out, frowning. “You’re heading home by yourself at this hour? Where’s Mr. Atwater?”


    Elissa turned, catching a glimpse of Lorraine–and Rowan, seated beside her.


    He had his eyes closed, feigning a nap, his features sharp and cold in profile, as if Lorraine’s words barely registered.


    “He had something urgent to take care of,” Elissa said.


    <i>218 </i>


    00.53


    “Then hop in, we’ll give you a ride.”


    Elissa shook her head. “No, it’s fine, I already called-”


    “Come on, it’s not safe for you to be out alone at night. Your brother would be worried.”


    Before she could protest, Lorraine had already stepped out, opened the passenger door, and gently nudged her inside.


    Evan was behind the wheel.


    Rowan and Lorraine shared the backseat.


    Elissa sat up front.


    Something about the seating arrangement felt off–almost like she was the kid in a family of three.


    Before she could dwell on it, Lorraine beamed at her. “I’m three years older than you, so is it alright if I call you Elissa, like your brother does? I hope you don’t mind.”


    Elissa hesitated.


    Lorraine took it as reluctance and quickly added, “Sorry, I can call you something else if-”


    “It’s fine<i>. </i>Call me whatever you like.”


    Rowan, though–he’d never call her that.


    Lorraine rxed, ncing at Rowan, who hadn’t even bothered to open his eyes.


    She couldn’t help thinking how alike the siblings were. Not that their personalities were identical, but both were quiet–reserved in a way that was hard to pin down, yet unmistakably simr.


    The rest of the ride passed in silence.


    Elissa felt every second crawl by, even her breathing felt out of sync.


    She kept reying the moment Lorraine had swept her into the car,


    <b>3/4 </b>


    09:53


    wondering why she hadn’t reacted faster.


    When the towers of Vistapeak Gardens finally came into view, she nearly wanted to beg Evan to hit the gas.


    Just as the thought crossed her mind, a sea of red brake lights red up ahead–traffic jam. At this hour.


    Out of the blue, Rowan’s voice sounded from the back seat, low and smooth with a hint ofzy irony. “Was the wine poisoned at tonight’s party?”