“You alright?” Tanya Foster asked, her voice tinged with concern.


    “I’m fine,” Elissa replied breezily.


    She downed a ss of milk in one go, then stood and headed for <b>her </b>


    room.


    Truthfully, if she had to say what was really bothering her, she wouldn’t know where to begin<b>. </b>


    Back in the car, she’d assumed Rowan just wanted her to admit defeat and call him “big brother.” That’s all there was to it. Or so she’d thought.


    But as shey in bed that night, the more she reyed the whole thing in her mind, the more something felt off.


    A strange thought had taken root in her heart, wild and persistent, refusing to be ignored.


    But…


    He’s my brother.


    Elissa couldn’t help but wonder if she was just overthinking things.


    Growing up, she’d delivered dozens–if not hundreds–of love letters to Rowan on behalf of other girls. The senders were always the school’s most popr girls, or daughters from prominent families.


    Rowan could have anyone he wanted. There was no way he’d be interested in someone like her–a married woman, at least on paper.


    Besides, he’d told herst time that he wasn’t single anymore.


    Remembering this, Elissa finally managed a quiet sigh of relief. She was clearly just letting her imagination get the best of her.


    The next morning, before heading to the clinic, Elissa drove Tanya Foster to the airport.


    This was a crucial case for Tanya–one that could make or break her


    09:18


    promotion–and she had to fly out of state to persuade a key witness.


    When Elissa finished work at noon, she found herself cornered by Frank in the parking garage.


    The snow hadn’t fully melted; Frank stood next to her car in a long wool coat, tall and strikingly handsome, the very picture of a gentleman.


    Elissa frowned, wondering what new game he and Marcia were ying. First Marcia, now Frank–taking turns ambushing her.


    Still, Marcia’s obsession with the Jade Pendant ran deeper than Elissa had expected. Maybe she could get some answers from Frank.


    She strode over briskly. “Why note by the clinic if you wanted to see me?”


    “I didn’t want to interfere with your work,” Frank replied, unfailingly polite. “Have you eaten? There’s a nice ce nearby-”


    “I’m good.”


    Elissa’s shift had endedte, the cafeteria had closed, and she hadn’t eaten yet. But there was zero reason to have dinner with Frank. “Why are you looking for me?”


    Her chilly tone caught Frank off guard, leaving an odd ache in his chest.


    Maybe husbands and wives really shouldn’t live apart.


    She hadn’t always been like this. Elissa used to be obedient, always agreeable.


    He made up his mind. “So, when are you moving back home? I happen to be free this afternoon–can help you pack.”


    As he spoke, Frank reached out to ruffle her hair, as if to bridge the distance between them.


    Elissa sidestepped, taking two steps back. “Frank, did you even listen to a word I saidst time? I told you–whatever you do is your business, but stay out of mine.”


    <b>2/3 </b>


    19-18


    “Things were fine the way they were, weren’t they?” Frank pressed. “Why not just go back to how we used to be?”


    The way things used to be–living under the same roof, but essentially strangers. In Frank’s eyes, she’d never truly existed. If she’d died at home<b>, </b>he probably wouldn’t have noticed.


    Frank’s brow furrowed. “I told you, the past was my fault. It won’t happen. again.”


    “As for Marcia, I’ll end things with her soon. For good.”


    He was almost certain now: Marcia had used the Jade Pendant to impersonate little Nine.


    The thought alone made him want to strangle her on the spot.


    But if he made a mistake, if he’d misunderstood, he couldn’t risk acting rashly. He was still waiting for Bernard’s final confirmation.


    Besides, he needed to know how Marcia had gotten hold of the Jade Pendant in the first ce.


    Had she bullied little Nine? Had she hurt that tearful little girl who’d once said goodbye to him so pitifully?


    Elissa stared at him, stunned, wondering if she’d heard him right. “What did you just say?”


    She’d seen all too clearly how far Frank had gone for Marcia. And now he was saying he’d cut ties with her?


    Frank knew how unbelievable that sounded. He pressed his lips together. “Believe what you want, but I mean it.”