Chapter 360 Elissa, are you awake?
The night was deep and silent, with the sea breeze gently lapping against the rocks on the shore, gradually coming to a halt.
But up in a certain room on the top floor of the hotel, things were still heating up until the early morning.
Outside the door, it sounded like someone was pacing back and forth.
A faint white smoke drifted in through the crack under the door.
Elissa was already out cold, while Francis caught a whiff of something sweet but didn't think much of it, holding Elissa tight as he drifted off.
After a while, the door creaked open.
The light from the hallway stretched the shadows of two figures, one tall and one short.
The shorter one had a skirt that swayed a bit as she walked.
Elissa was sleeping soundly; she usually suffered from insomnia, perhaps because she hadn't expended all her energy.
She turned over to grab her phone and check the time, wincing at the pain in her waist, a reminder of last night's wildness.
It was Francis's first time, and Elissa got that, but then he seemed to want to prove something, getting all intense and fierce.
It was awesome in the moment, but the aftermath was a killer.
"It's already one in the afternoon."
No wonder she woke up starving.
After checking the time, Elissa put down her phone and turned to wake Francis for some food.
As she turned her head, her eyes went wide in shock.
Elissa couldn't believe her surroundings and saw her own suitcase.
Last night, she had left in a hurry, not wanting to face Efren, planning to come back for her luggage after a nap.
But now, she had woken up in the room she originally shared with Efren.
Yet Elissa clearly remembered sleeping in a newly opened room with Francis last night.
"Elissa," Efren sat up groggily, his hair all messy, his voice still hoarse from sleep.
"Elissa, you're awake? Are you hungry? I'll get you something to eat."
"Wait a minute." Elissa stopped Efren, pulling the blanket over herself.
Elissa was wearing a nightgown, but part of her memory was blank.
She even wondered if she had dreamed last night, having had sex with someone else because she was angry with Francis and had drunk some alcohol.
"Why am I here?"
Efren, with his back to Elissa, was getting dressed, not daring to look her in the eye.
Actually, when Jessa had come to him last night, he had a slight hesitation.
Efren wanted Elissa to be happy, so if she really liked Francis, he could let her go.
But on Francis's side, not only was Jessa around, but Francis's entanglement with Elissa might not be out of genuine affection.
That was why Efren went along with Jessa's plan, mainly to see if Francis would firmly choose Elissa.
But deceiving Elissa made Efren feel guilty, unable to face her.
Taking the opportunity to get dressed, Efren said, "Why are you asking, Elissa? You came back to the room yourself."
Elissa pressed her heavy head.
She remembered getting the room key and sleeping with Francis, but the details were fuzzy, just a vague outline.
And her intuition told her she wouldn't mistake Efren for Francis and have sex with him.
"Efren, we've known each other for a while. I may not be able to reciprocate your feelings, but I haven't done anything excessive to you. We agreed from the start, and I haven't hurt you. Don't lie to me."
Efren finished getting dressed, grabbed his phone, and turned to look at Elissa, trying to hide his bitterness.
"Yeah, we agreed from the start, just for fun. So I won't bring up what happened last night, and you can pretend it never happened. I won't use this to hold onto you, don't worry."
"I'll get you something to eat."
With that, Efren left the bedroom.
Elissa couldn't focus on figuring out what had happened; she first checked the small box on the bedside table, which was open.
Then she looked at the trash can, where there was a used condom, but it wasn't entirely reassuring.
Elissa quickly got up, took a shower, got dressed, and grabbed her phone before rushing out.
She remembered passing a pharmacy while out playing yesterday.
But as she opened the door, the door diagonally across also opened.
"Francis, don't worry, I won't say anything."
She saw Jessa, with red, tear-stained eyes, wearing only a bathrobe, and Francis, looking disheveled and somber.
A few minutes earlier.
Francis woke up, and before opening his eyes, he hugged the person beside him, wanting to kiss her, but something smelled off.
Jasmine fragrance, Elissa wouldn't use such a light scent; she always had a passionate rose fragrance.
Last night, they had bathed together, both smelling of the hotel's bath products.
Francis suddenly opened his eyes and sat up; the person beside him was Jessa, not Elissa.
He immediately looked for his clothes, realizing this was his original room, not the one where he had sex with Elissa last night.
But Francis's memory was all over the place.
Jessa slowly woke up, and Francis quickly covered her entirely with the blanket, even her head.
He hurriedly grabbed clothes from his suitcase and put them on.
Jessa emerged from the blanket, looking at him with moist eyes.
Although it was Francis's first time having sex last night, he wasn't a fool. He knew very well who he had slept with.
"Why are you in my room?"
Jessa bit her lip, a tear falling from her left eye, her voice choked and slightly hoarse, as if from post-coital exhaustion.
"Francis, I understand. You were drunk last night and angry about Elissa and her boyfriend, so you made a mistake."
"Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret."
Jessa said as she lifted the blanket and got out of bed.
Francis looked away.
Jessa picked up her torn clothes from the floor, realizing they were unwearable, and put on a bathrobe from the bathroom before leaving.
Francis glanced at the torn clothes on the floor and quickly followed her.
"Wait."
The door opened, and he met Elissa's eyes from across the hall.
Both of their eyes were filled with confusion.
They couldn't understand how things had become so complicated after just one night.
"Elissa, are you going out?"
Efren returned from the restaurant with food, seeing Elissa dressed and ready to leave.
Efren then said, "If you need anything, let me handle it. You should rest."
Elissa had more pressing matters and didn't respond to Efren, quickly leaving.
Francis followed her.
Jessa dropped her pitiful act and asked Efren, "You didn't slip up, did you?"
During the elevator ride down, Francis tried to speak several times but didn't know where to start.
Elissa stared at the slowly decreasing numbers, remaining silent.
Francis followed her all the way to the pharmacy.
"Is it... me... are you feeling unwell?"
Elissa shook her head and asked the store clerk for emergency contraception.
Francis's lips tightened into a straight line, his eyes filled with coldness.
"I used protection last night."
Elissa nodded, went out to buy some water, swallowed the pill, and asked, "Do you remember what happened afterward?"
Francis didn't speak. He turned back into the pharmacy and bought the same medication.
Elissa said, "You should go make sure she takes the pill. I'll go ask the front desk."
Francis reached out to grab Elissa, "Come with me."
Elissa shook her head, "Let's split up. I'm afraid someone might destroy evidence."
Francis's first suspect in this matter was Efren; he didn't seem as simple as he appeared.
"Even if you ask now, you won't get any answers."
Elissa's face looked a bit grim.
From the time they fell asleep until now, several hours had passed. If the other party had planned this, they certainly wouldn't leave any traces.
Elissa followed Francis back to the top floor of the hotel.
She watched as Francis knocked on Jessa's door. After a moment, the door opened from the inside.
Jessa peeked out, looking timidly at Francis, "Francis..."
A flicker of emotion passed through Francis's eyes, but his face remained expressionless.
He handed the medication over.
Jessa saw the words on the box, lowered her eyes, and suppressed the malice in them.
Jessa's voice was filled with grievance, "Francis, what do you mean by this?"
The matter hadn't been clarified yet, and even though Jessa had grown up with him, people changed over the years.
Francis couldn't help but suspect her.
Francis's voice was neither warm nor cold, "Take it; it's for your own good."
Jessa turned back, took out a box of pills, and when she looked up again, her eyes were full of tears, "I've already taken it, Francis. I heard that taking too many contraceptives at once can harm your body."
Elissa couldn't help but speak up, "When did you go buy it?"
It wasn't that Elissa lacked sympathy, but Jessa's behavior didn't seem so innocent.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Elissa asked, Jessa started crying, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
"I know you both suspect me. Even if I defend myself, you won't fully believe me. So let's rely on evidence to see what really happened."
"Francis, I promised not to say anything, and I won't. I've already taken the pill. If you don't believe me, I'll take the one you brought too."
"If it harms my body, I won't blame you. You're just looking out for me. It's better than getting pregnant out of wedlock."
Saying this, Jessa reached for the box in Francis's hand, but he pulled it back.
"Get some rest."
With that, Francis pulled Elissa and turned to enter the elevator.
Efren caught up, "Elissa, have something to eat."
He handed Elissa a piece of toast and some milk, continuing, "After you're done, let's go eat something nice. I found a restaurant with good reviews and local specialties."
Elissa was indeed quite hungry, but Francis didn't let her take the food.
"She doesn't need you. I'll take her to eat."
Efren hung his head, "Yes, Mr. Peterson, you can certainly take Elissa to more expensive places, but at least let her grab a bite. Staying hungry will hurt her stomach."
Francis already looked down on Efren, and now seeing him act so nonchalant only deepened his suspicion.
Francis coldly said to Efren, "Elissa is my girlfriend now. You'd better stay away from her, or don't blame me for being rude."
Efren didn't get angry but looked sad, "I'll bless Elissa no matter who she chooses. As long as she's happy, I'll do anything. But Mr. Peterson, Jessa did come out of your room. Shouldn't you take some responsibility for her?"
"Isn't it inappropriate to declare your sovereignty over me now?" Efren said.
Francis couldn't stand Efren's pitiful act.
Francis's actions were not for Efren to comment on.
But before Francis could speak, Efren added, "Well, Mr. Peterson, with your background, if you want both women, no one would dare say anything."
"Rich and powerful men always have multiple women."
Elissa had to intervene, "Enough, I want some peace."
Francis hadn't even spoken, and Efren obediently shut up.
At that moment, the elevator arrived, and Elissa pulled Francis out first, with Efren following behind.
At the reception, Elissa didn't see the girl who had given her the room key last night. She asked, "When do you start your shift?"
The current receptionist said, "Shift change is at 8 AM. Who are you looking for?"
Elissa said, "The night shift girl. Give me her contact information."
This receptionist had received a briefing from the manager during the shift change.
These guests from the top floor were VIPs and couldn't be neglected.
She immediately provided Elissa with the phone number.
Elissa dialed the number, hearing an automated message, and told Francis, "It's turned off."
Francis succinctly said, "Contact your hotel owner."
The receptionist didn't have that authority and quickly called the manager to explain the situation.
Within seconds, the manager hurried over, bowing to Francis, "Mr. Peterson."
Francis's expression was indifferent, "Call your superior. You can't handle this."
The manager broke out in a cold sweat.
If he couldn't handle it, how big could this issue be? Would he lose his job as a manager? Not daring to argue, he quickly called his superior.
"Elissa, what's going on?"
Madison and Garry, taking Celestia for a walk after their nap, saw Elissa and the others at the reception and came over to ask.
Elissa shook her head, "It's a small matter. You and Garry go have fun, don't worry."
Madison knew Francis's background and assumed there wouldn't be any problems, but still said, "If you need help, call me anytime."
"Okay," Elissa agreed, then added, "Don't tell Hope. She's on her honeymoon with Jerry on a cruise. This isn't a big deal, don't disturb them."
Hearing this, Madison knew Elissa was lying.
Elissa would usually appear fully made up, with every accessory perfectly matched.
But today, Elissa wasn't wearing any makeup, was dressed casually, and even had mismatched buttons.
She wasn't wearing any jewelry, didn't have a bag, and was only holding her phone.
"Then tell me the truth."
Elissa didn't want Madison to overthink and pulled her aside to explain briefly.
Madison's face changed after hearing it, "Such a big deal, and you call it a small matter?"
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