Her heart hammered in her chest–she just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. “Mr. Murphy, everything’s fine now. Can we go?”


    “Anyone not involved is free to leave.”


    Rowan leaned back on the arm of the sofa, long fingers twirling a cigarette whose tip glowed a sinister red. “Ms. Carson, you’re not free to go.”


    His voice was cold, utterly devoid of warmth. The chill sent a shiver down Marcia’s spine, and regret gnawed at her.


    If only she’d known Rowan would show up today, she never would have made a move. This man was terrifying.


    Frank, sensing Rowan’s hostility, stepped in front of Marcia and faced him. “What’s your problem?”


    Rowan flicked ash from his cigarette, looking almost bored. “Didn’t you just say you wanted justice for Elissa?”


    He gaven a subtle nod. Ian immediately strode out, returning momentster with two hotel staff members, whom he practically threw at Marcia’s feet. “Ms. Carson, what exactly did our Miss Elissa ever do to you, for you to go to such trouble to hurt


    her?”


    When Marcia recognized the two servers, her whole body shook.


    How? She’d destroyed the security footage herself. How had Rowan managed to get to the bottom of this so quickly?


    His arrival had upended everything–nothing had gone ording to her n.


    She forced herself to feignposure. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”


    By now, Frank had pieced together what was happening. He frowned, his voice stern. “Assistant Murphy, you can’t just throw usations around.”


    Rowan smirked, malice flickering in his eyes. “You’re defending her without event asking what really happened? Frank, do you remember what you promised me before you and Elissa got married?”


    Frank froze for a moment.


    Back then, Rowan had objected to the marriage, but Frank had needed a wife, and


    11:13 D


    Elissa was perfect in every way. He couldn’t have found someone more suitable. <i>So </i>he’d promised Rowan he would treat Elissa like his own sister, never letting her


    suffer.


    “I kept my word,” Frank said quietly.


    He truly believed he hadn’t let Elissa suffer. Any misunderstandings, he’d always apologized for. Every time, he’d waited for Elissa to say she forgave him before letting it go. Even recently, when Elissa wasn’t as gentle or amodating, he’d never once thought about recing her.


    “But that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and let you throw dirt on Marcia’s name,” Frank added.


    At this, Rowan’s expression hardened, his gaze icy as it swept over to Marcia. She shrank back unconsciously.


    He let out a coldugh. “If it’s all lies, why is your loving wife so afraid?”


    Frank nced back at Marcia. After all these years, he thought he knew her well. His brow furrowed, and without waiting for her to respond, he pulled her out of the room.


    A few minutester, he returned alone, looking grim. “I’ll make sure Elissa gets an exnation for what happened today.”


    Rowan caught the subtext, raising an eyebrow. “So you’re only brave enough to pick on the easy target, huh?”


    Frank, realizing he had no advantage here, softened his tone. “Rowan, do me a favor–let’s not make a spectacle out of this.”


    The charity auction tonight was full of Vistapeak City’s most influential people. With Rowan making such a scene, everyone would know exactly what had happened, and Marcia would be an outcast. With Rowan’s standing in the city, no one would dare associate with her after this. She’d have no reason to stay in Vistapeak.


    Rowan gave a humorless smile. “Did you ever do me any favors?”


    He was, of course, talking about Frank marrying Elissa.


    Frank pressed his tongue to the inside of his cheek, trying to keep his cool. “Come on, Rowan. We’re friends. No need to drag up old history.”


    “And besides, nothing really happened to Elissa tonight. Why push things so far when no real harm was done?”