bChapter /bb259 /b

    The instant her fingers brushed against something damp, Elissa froze. Shock filled her eyes. “What are you doing?”

    Even if he had figured out she was that little girl from the past, this was over the top.

    Frank’s intensity was almost frightening.

    She tried to yank her hand back, but he only let go when he realized he might hurt her again. Yet he didn’t actually release her–he just stood up and pulled her along ito /ithe bathroom, turning on the faucet to carefully wash her wound.

    When he was done, he led her back to the living room, grabbed a cotton swab and antiseptic, and started cleaning her injury.

    Elissa frowned slightly. “You haven’t even finished disinfecting it and it’s already healing.”

    “Doesn’t matter. It still needs to be treated properly.”

    Frank ignored her protest, crouching by her side, his longshes lowered in concentration as he tended to her wound.

    His movements were gentle. It was only a scratch, but he acted as if he was terrified of causing her pain.

    Elissa sat still, her thoughts swirling. Maybe it wasn’t some sudden realization on his part–maybe he was under a spell.

    If this had been the old Frank, he’d have said something like, “How’d you manage to be so careless?” And that would’ve been the end of it.

    Now he was making a scene over the tiniest cut.

    After all the fuss, Elissa lost her appetite. When he finally stuck a bandage over her finger, she seized the chance to speak up. “It’s gettingte. I should head home.”

    She stood decisively and strode toward the door.

    Behind her, Frank said nothing. But when she pushed open the front door, two bodyguards stepped into her path.

    Frank’s gaze never left her–not for a second–so he didn’t miss the look of disbelief in her eyes when she nced back at him.

    She stared at him silently, lips curved in a faint, mocking smile. “What, are you nning to keep me here by force?”

    She’d never imagined Frank would stoop to this.

    He was nothing like the courteous gentleman she used to know.

    Frank saw the distance and wariness in her eyes–a thin thread tightening around his heart. Still, he showed none of it on his face. He walked over, resting arge hand on her shoulder, leaning in just a little.

    14:27

    “Just stay here a few days, all right? When your brother gets back, if he agrees to help you look into your parents, I’ll let you go. I promise.”

    His tone was all reason andpromise, but Elissa let out a coldugh. “You really mean that?”

    First he pretended to agree to give her three days, then tricked her into going upstairs to rest. Now he wanted her to stay here “for a while.”

    And then what?

    If Rowan refused to help her, this man would probably keep her here forever.

    Frank hesitated for a moment, letting her pull away, but he reached out to rest his hand on her head. “Little Elissa, I don’t know what else to do.”

    “I really can’t think of any other way to keep you by my side.”

    His voice was soft, but the helplessness beneath it was unmistakable—a far cry from the alwaysposed man she remembered.

    He knew he couldn’t keep her here forever.

    Even if Rowan didn’t intervene, he didn’t have it in him to go that far.

    But right now, he just wanted to be near her–even if it meant nothing more than sharing the same space, doing nothing at all. That would be enough.

    Elissa, however, felt a chill run through her. She pped his hand away, her tone icy. “Aren’t you afraid Rowan wille back and make you pay for this?”

    Frank’s gaze lingered on her, hungry and desperate. “I don’t care anymore.”

    If it meant he could have a little more time with her, he’d take whatever consequences came.

    “You’re insane!”

    Elissa caught the possessiveness in his eyes, and a shiver ran down her spine. “Frank, you-”

    She nced out at the yard, where several burly bodyguards stood watch. Suddenly, she changed tack. “Fine. I’ll stay here for now. But you are not allowed to set one foot in my room.”