A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 183

Elissa couldn't even bring herself to feign interest in conversation.

She knew Frank would always be absorbed in his own schemes; what she thought or felt simply didn't matter to him.

After dinner, she found an excuse to slip away first. As she walked toward the elevator, Frank hurried after her.

Elissa stopped, forcing herself to swallow the irritation in her voice. "I don't care what's going on between you and Marcia. The point is, I'm not moving back in. Not ever."

"So, you're still angry?"

Frank looked exasperated. He took a couple steps closer, trying hard to keep his tone patient. "There were reasons I had to go through with the fake divorce, you know. I didn't have a choice…"

"Frank," Elissa cut him off, unable to hold back any longer. "You really think the only thing standing between us is that so-called fake divorce?"

The man in front of her—usually so composed and refined—suddenly looked utterly drained, almost suffocating under the weight of it all.

He always managed to conveniently forget everything that had happened between them.

The truth was, they'd been past the point of no return for a long time. He just refused to see it.

Frank hesitated, visibly lost, then softened his voice. "So… what do you want me to do?"

What did she want from him?

If he'd asked her that just days ago, Elissa might've had an answer. If he'd only been willing to help save Tanya Foster, maybe she could've considered moving back home. But then, he'd asked for a divorce.

So there were no what-ifs. There never had been.

She caught the faint smell of alcohol on him and took a careful step back, her tone calm and deliberate. "I want you to do nothing. Let's just leave things as they are. That's enough."

Frank frowned. "Just like this?"

"How is this any different from being divorced?" he pressed, his eyes fixed on her face, searching for the warmth and gentleness he used to find there. But now, all he saw was distance.

Elissa met his gaze, tipped her chin up, and licked her lips. "We should've gotten divorced a long time ago."

What she really wanted to say was that they already were—almost. The paperwork was all but done; there was no point complicating things now.

Elissa panicked. "Let go of me!"

He ignored her.

"Let go."

The words were cold and sharp. Rowan was suddenly there at the end of the hallway, his eyes icy as they locked on Frank's hand gripping Elissa.

This time, Frank released her even before she could struggle.

Rowan beckoned her over. "Come here."

A wave of relief washed over Elissa. She hurried to his side without hesitation, suddenly feeling safe for the first time all evening.

She looked perfectly docile as she stood next to Rowan.

Seeing her so eager to seek his protection, Rowan's irritation eased a little. He glanced at Frank, a faint, mocking smile on his lips. "You only had to stand outside my door for five minutes before you started harassing her?"