<b>Chapter </b><b>191 </b>
Carm truly hadn’t expected her son to be this infatuated with Elissa.
She’d thought her n was airtight, never imagining it would unravel here of all ces.
But Elissa hadn’t seen any of thising either.
She never thought Frank would cut ties with Marcia <i>so </i>cleanly, let alone refuse point–nk to divorce her.
Well, at least now it was over.
Once Elissa collected her thoughts, she looked at Carm. “I only promised to keep
this secret until Valentine’s Day.”
That left just fifteen days.
“Elissa…”
Carm knew her son’s temperament better than anyone. He might seem gentle andposed, but once he made up his mind, nothing could change it.
If Frank ever found out she’d gone behind his back and pulled strings to finalize the divorce papers with Elissa, he’d probably turn against herpletely.
No matter how much Carm disliked Elissa, she could only soften her tone. “Let’s
call this a favor I owe you, all right?”
“Aunt Carm,”
Elissa gave a wry smile. “You didn’t sound so amodating when I called you for help a few days ago.”
She’d figured Carm out by now. Deep down, she was just like Mrs. Murphy–unyielding and cold.
They’d already had their falling out. Carm’s momentarypromise today wouldn’t make her remember this as a genuine debt.
People like her always thought weakness was just the natural order of things. Why should Elissa bow her head?
For now, Carm was wary of Frank and wouldn’t dare push her too far.
Of course, Carm remembered how high and mighty she’d sounded on the phone
<b>1/3 </b>
<b>11:39 </b>
just days before.
She’d assumed Elissa would be grateful for any small gesture, but instead, Elissa held her ground, refusing to just take the hint and back down.
Seething, Carm mmed her palm on the table. “Elissa, do you even recognize your own ce? After everything that’s happened, you still think you have the right to talk back to me?”
Elissa’s tone was steady, almost dispassionate. “But this time, you’re the one asking for my help.”
She needed to settle things with Frank as soon as possible.
She’d long since had enough of pretending to be Mrs. Frank.
Carm was about to m the table again when someone knocked and entered the
room.
Frank strode to Elissa’s side and took her hand. He turned to Carm. “If you have a problem, bring it to me. Don’t take it out on her.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
Carm could barely restrain an eye roll as she snapped, “You defend her like this, but do you know what she really wants?”
-She wants a divorce.
Elissa looked at her calmly, unruffled.
If she could say it herself, she would–she honestly would prefer it.
Frank pressed his lips together, his voice even. “I know I’ve wronged her in the past. Whatever she wants is only fair.”
He paused, then added, “I’ll take her back to the Murphy house now.”
Carm shot Elissa a cold nce. “She’s not even your wife in name anymore. Does she really need you to go back home with her for the holidays?”
She wasn’t wrong–Elissa had always gone back alone before.
“She and Rowan have reconciled.”
Frank’s words, sharp and unyielding, took all the fire out of Carm.
Her demeanor shifted instantly. “Fine. If you’re going, leave early–after all, it’s her family.”
11:39 1
With that, she headed downstairs, calling for the butler to help arrange gifts, making a disy of courtesy.
As Elissa nced at the trunk full of neatly packed presents, a thought struck her–power really was a wonderful thing.
Frank held the car door open for her. “What are you thinking about?”
Without thinking, she answered, “Rowan.”
She paused, surprised at herself.
She’d subconsciously equated Rowan with power–and she wasn’t the only one. In Vistapeak City, a lot of people made that same connection.
<b>11:39 </b>