For a split second, Elissa felt dazed, her eyshes trembling..
Those words–she realized–wouldn’t have surprised her at any other time. Yet, hearing them now caught herpletely off guard.
“Don’t worry,” Frank said, his voice soothing, “it’s not a real divorce.”
He’d already made up his mind when he agreed to Marcia’s request. Resting his hands gently on Elissa’s shoulders, he bent his head closer. “We’ll just pretend for a while. We don’t even need to file any paperwork.”
Elissa gathered her scattered thoughts, her voice cool and steady. “A real divorce would be fine, too.”
As long as he was the one to bring it up, she wouldn’t have to keep honoring that agreement with Carm.
“No.” Frank refused instantly, the word hard and certain. Deep down, he believed that if they ever signed the papers, he’d lose her for good. He couldn’t bear that thought.
Even now, he wasn’t sure what he’d say to Elissa once the real “little Nine” was finally found. Maybe that girl was already married–if so, all he’d have to do was make sure she was provided for, keep her safe from those drug lords, and that would be enough.
The idea left him almost relieved, though he didn’t have time to dwell on why. All he could do was grip Elissa’s shoulders a little tighter, meeting. her gaze with earnest eyes. He softened his tone. “Elissa, I just need you to go along with this. Just y the part for Marcia’s sake, that’s all.”
Afraid she might misunderstand, Frank added seriously, “You have to believe me. I don’t have a choice here. You’re my wife–no one else. That’s never going to change.”
“Never.”
Elissa looked a little stunned. It wasn’t that she was hesitating to agree–it was that she didn’t know what to choose. Between Frank and Carm,
<b>09:19 </b>
there wasn’t a shred of unspoken understanding. One wanted her to fake a divorce, the other wanted her to y the loving couple.
Frank, watching her lower her eyes in silence, grew anxious. “Come on, Elissa. Please? I’m begging you<b>, </b>okay?”
He was willing to beg, just to put her at ease.
Elissa suddenly looked up at him, her lips quirking in a half–smile. “Alright. I’ll do it.”
She agreed. But she didn’t mention that there was no need to pretend because, in truth, they were already divorced.
Frank let out a sigh of relief, and Elissa seized the chance to speak. “I
want to-”
She never finished. Frank’s phone rang again and, after answering, he hurried off, leaving her no opportunity to say another word.
Maybe it was for the best, Elissa thought bitterly as she watched him leave. This whole mess had Marcia’s fingerprints all over it. Frank was willing to fake a divorce for Marcia’s sake–there was no guarantee he’d ever choose to help her.
Anxious and distracted, Elissa took the elevator upstairs. As the doors. slid open, Rowan caught sight of her–she looked lost, as if her soul had been sucked out. Max, his golden retriever, wriggled free of the leash and bounded over, tail wagging, leaping into Elissa’s arms.
“What did Frank say this time to upset you?” Rowan called out dryly. “You look like a ghost.”
Elissa hoisted Max and stepped out of the elevator, doing her best to avoid Rowan’s gaze. “He wants me to y along with a fake divorce,” she said casually.
Ever since that night when things had grown awkward between them, she’d been unconsciously keeping her distance.
Rowan just smirked, as if nothing had changed. “You’re so zen<b>, </b>even a monk woulde to you for lessons.”
09.19
ETE
Elissa didn’t have the energy to banter–her mind was too preupied
with Tanya Foster. After tousling Max’s ears, she handed the leash back. to Rowan and started toward her door.
“Something else is going on, isn’t it?”
His voice, cool and clear, stopped her in her tracks.
She stiffened, unsure if she should say anything. If she could avoid it, shel
didn’t want to ask him for help. But the image of Tanya, alone and desperate, haunted her.
“Rowan,” she said quietly, “can you help Tanya Foster? She’s been used of something she didn’t do. They’ve taken her into custody…”