bChapter /bb253 /b

    Frank no longer wore the oppressive expression he’d had before his phone call. He was back to his usual calm civility, but the words he spoke left Elissa with no room to argue.

    Elissa’s brows knit together. “We’re already divorced.”

    He had no right to meddle in her life anymore.

    And there was no reason for them to keep living under the same roof.

    Frank seemed deaf to everything she said. “I didn’t even know about this. When did it be possible to get a divorce certificate without the other person present?”

    His tone was mild. “In any case, I don’t ept the divorce.”

    Elissa had imagined countless ways he might react.

    But this–him t–out refusing to acknowledge it–she hadn’t seen

    For a moment, her face froze, shock flickering in her eyes. “But you signed the divorce papers yourself. That’s not a mistake.”

    Frank’s expression faltered.

    Carm had mentioned the divorce papers on the phone earlier. It was because of that signed document that Carm had been able to process everything so smoothly.

    Frank struggled ito /irecall when he’d even signed it. It took him a while, but the memory finally surfaced.

    It was the day his older brother’s funeral had ended. Elissa had handed him two sets of papers. Maybe he’d wanted to appease her, or maybe he’d been in a hurry because Marcia was waiting for him.

    He hadn’t even bothered to read what he was signing–he’d just scribbled his name and handed them back.

    12:10

    So Elissa had wanted to leave him even back then.

    And he, back then, had cared so little that he didn’t even pay attention to what she gave him.

    No one knew better than he did just how much he’d failed her.

    But even so, he couldn’t just let her go.

    No one could understand the relief and bittersweet joy he’d felt when he learned that Elissa was actually the little girl-“Little Nine“-he’d always wanted to protect. Alongside all the guilt and regret, he’d felt a flicker of hope.

    Elissa was his wife. The very person he wanted to care for, to cherish.

    From now on, he didn’t have to hesitate, didn’t have to worry about her taking offense.

    He could finally give her everything. Whatever she wanted, even the stars, he’d try to reach for them if it would make her happy.

    Frank realized, with absolute certainty, that he’d loved Elissa all along.

    He couldn’t lose her.

    Seemingly oblivious to her efforts to distance herself, Frank reached out and gently rested hisrge hand on her head, his voice soft, almost pleading. “If I’d known those were divorce papers, I never would’ve signed them.”

    “Elissa, I never once thought about divorcing you. Please, let me make it up to you. Just give me a chance, okay?”

    “I don’t want you to make it up to me,” Elissa replied, her tone unwavering. “I just want the divorce.”

    With that, she could see Frank wasn’t listening, and she had no patience left to wait for his answer. She stood, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door.

    “Elissa,”

    b2/3 /b

    12:10

    Chapter b253 /b

    His gentle voice called after her.

    She didn’t look back, determined to leave. But before she reached the foyer, his next words stopped her in her tracks.

    “Do you know what really caused your parents‘ deaths?”

    “I do.” Elissa froze, her voice tight. “It was an ident.”

    She tried to sound casual, but her fingers dug into the handle of her bag

    until her knuckles turned white.

    Frank walked over, stopping right in front of her. He brushed his thumb softly along the corner of her reddening eyes. “You never suspected anything?” he asked quietly.

    Elissa’s hands trembled, despite her best efforts to hide it.