Chapter 383 Ms. Wilson, Have Some Self-Respect
Francis listened, his voice cold as he asked, "From abroad?"
Sebastian nodded. "We checked, and it turned out to be a public phone booth. Since there was no call and no surveillance, we can't determine who Jessa was contacting."
Francis frowned slightly but didn't dwell on the minor issue.
He packed up and went downstairs, only to be stopped by his parents.
His grandparents were also there.
It was another family interrogation.
He sat down on a single sofa, crossed his long legs, and played with a lighter in his hand without saying a word.
The living room was quiet for a while until Rainey spoke first. "Jessa's baby isn't yours, you know that, right?"
"Yes," Francis replied.
"So what are you planning to do?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Francis's indifferent demeanor didn't anger the Peterson family.
Because he had always been like this, they felt they had raised Francis well. He was rational and cold, always calculating, never swayed by emotions.
Who knew he would go crazy over Elissa.
Jacob spoke after Rainey, "I know you want to marry Jessa to protect Elissa. But you don't have to marry her; you could marry someone else from another family. Once you're married, your enemies will focus on your wife and you, not Elissa."
Francis stopped playing with the lighter, stood up, smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes, and said in a cold voice, "I don't need an arranged marriage; don't set one up for me."
Jacob's patience was limited, and he was about to lose his temper when Elysia stopped him.
Elysia looked at Francis and smiled. "Jessa has feelings for you. If you use her and then discard her, you won't be able to get rid of her. Do you really think you can spend your life with her?"
Francis certainly couldn't spend his life with Jessa.
Now he knew the child wasn't his.
They were just going through the motions of a wedding, without actually getting married.
Jessa was just a cover.
The one he would ultimately marry would be Elissa.
"I have to go to the hospital. If there's nothing important, don't waste my time."
Jacob couldn't hold back and sneered, "Going to the hospital to put on a show isn't a waste of time?"
Francis replied, "Using tactics and strategies in war is allowed, even necessary. You taught me that."
"Since you all know my plan, I have nothing more to say. Just one thing, if you ruin my plan, don't blame me if the Peterson family loses face."
After Francis left, the living room was silent for a long time.
Things had developed to this point, which was not what they wanted to see.
They had hoped Francis would break up with Elissa, and they had breathed a sigh of relief, but in the end, they couldn't avoid Elissa.
"Right now," Wesley said, "find Elissa and have her persuade Francis not to marry Jessa."
Rainey hesitated. "Dad, Francis just said..."
Wesley tapped his cane. "If you let him be, he will definitely marry Elissa. Is that what you want to see?"
Rainey certainly didn't want that.
Given Francis's current obsession with Elissa, if they let them continue their love affair, Elissa would become Francis's fatal weakness.
Elissa had no family background, and those enemies could easily target her.
Unlike someone with a family background, at least there would be some deterrence.
But Francis didn't understand this.
"I had someone check, Elissa is in Regal City, but we haven't found her exact location yet," Rainey said.
Wesley said, "Then go there."
Rainey nodded in agreement.
Jessa was genuinely surprised that Francis came to her ward.
But then she pulled out a mocking smile.
For Elissa, Francis was willing to do anything.
"Francis, I don't want to have a wedding with you," Jessa said.
Francis was peeling an apple, the knife skillfully moving in his long fingers, creating intricate patterns on the fruit.
Upon hearing this, Francis didn't even raise an eyebrow.
His expression remained indifferent, focused on the apple.
Jessa only saw what looked like a girl's face.
But she didn't know what he was carving, nor did she care.
"I know you want to use me as a cover to protect Elissa, but I don't want to."
Francis placed the apple on the table beside him, his long fingers still holding the fruit knife.
With a slight movement, it gleamed with a cold light.
"Isn't this what you desperately wanted to marry me?"
Francis's lips curled slightly. "Marrying me was always going to come at a painful price. Unfortunately, you realized it too late."
Jessa laughed, then cried. "Francis, why didn't I realize before how ruthless your heart is? And why do you like Elissa? She chased you for so long without a response, but now that I'm back, you suddenly love her more than your own life."
"I may not have a powerful background, but if you marry me, no one can use me to threaten you. Elissa can't offer that. I have the Peterson family; she has nothing. Even if she's friends with Hope and Jerry, they can't intervene too much or openly oppose the Peterson family elders like you can."
"Francis, if you marry Elissa, your enemies will target her to get to you. You think you can protect her, but you can't keep her safe all the time. There are countless dangers, both hidden and obvious, that you can't guard against."
"Are you done?" Francis said coldly.
Jessa's impassioned speech only earned a bland response from Francis.
As she pondered what to say next, Francis answered one of her questions. "She chased me, and I didn't respond because I considered the Peterson family's situation and her background. Later, I pursued her because I couldn't control my love for her. I can't accept her being with another man."
Jessa still couldn't understand.
Francis continued, "I can't explain, but I'm sure this is love."
Jessa didn't say all that to hear Francis confess his love for Elissa.
After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Francis, let's make a bet. If Elissa comes back to you before our wedding, we'll go through with it. If she doesn't, we'll cancel the wedding."
Francis never dealt with such intangible things.
He preferred to have everything under his control.
"I told you," Francis said coldly, "you have no choice in this matter."
Elissa had been experiencing farm life in the countryside for a few days and found it quite enjoyable.
If it weren't for the bet with Efren, she would have liked to stay longer.
"Elissa, if you lose the bet, we can go back, and you can stay as long as you want," Efren said.
Elissa looked at him. "Don't jinx me, or it won't be a fair win for you."
Efren raised his hand and made a zipping motion over his lips.
As soon as Elissa's plane landed, Francis received the news.
Francis only received the news; he didn't have anyone stop Elissa, nor did he go looking for her.
Unexpectedly, she contacted him first. "Where are you?"
"Let's talk over the phone," Francis replied.
They had only been broken up for a few days, and Francis was already this indifferent?
Elissa didn't want to lose the bet so easily.
She decided to struggle a bit more. "If you don't tell me where you are, I can ask Jerry."
Francis simply told her to come to Harmony General Hospital and then hung up.
Efren was right next to her and guessed a bit from Elissa's words. "Elissa, you don't seem happy?"
Elissa shook her hair. Maple Valley was colder than Regal City. She put on a red coat and walked out of the airport without responding.
The two of them arrived at the hospital and went to the VIP ward.
Elissa saw Simon and greeted him before asking directly, "Where's Francis?"
Simon pointed to the smoking area, and Elissa walked over.
Efren followed closely.
"Mr. Peterson, can I borrow a light?" Elissa bit a cigarette and leaned in.
Francis stepped back and handed her the lighter.
She grabbed his hand and lit her cigarette with the one still burning between his fingers.
Francis's cold facade almost cracked.
He swallowed hard, suppressing his emotions, and asked, "We've broken up. What do you want?"
Elissa frowned slightly.
Before she left, Francis had been acting crazy.
In just a few days, he had become like this.
She felt her decision to break up was the right one.
It allowed her to see herself clearly and to see him clearly.
"Nothing much." Elissa took a step forward.
Francis's back was already against the wall. He tried to sidestep, but Elissa blocked him with her arm.
He looked at her expressionlessly and said, "Ms. Wilson, please have some self-respect."
Elissa asked, "Are you really breaking up with me?"
Francis's facade was starting to crack. He couldn't keep this up with her.
He pushed her away. "If Ms. Wilson has nothing to say, I need to take care of Jessa."
Elissa straightened up, her expression serious. "Francis, if I say I don't want you to marry Jessa, will you still go through with it?"
Francis almost didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Only he could feel his true emotions.
He really wanted to hold her right now, but it wasn't the right time.
Not only were his enemies watching him, but the Peterson family was also watching him.
"We've broken up, Ms. Wilson. Are you suffering from amnesia or something, asking your ex not to get married?" Francis pretended to say casually.
Elissa and Francis hadn't been together for long.
It was only after they started dating that they spent more time together.
But even that short time was enough to understand each other's true personalities.
At this moment, she couldn't understand him.
"Are you telling the truth?" Elissa asked.
"Yes," Francis replied.
The cigarette in Elissa's hand burned to the end and scorched her.
She instinctively flinched, and Efren quickly pulled her to the sink to run cold water over it.
Francis withdrew his hand and put it in his pocket.
As the cold water ran, Elissa was lost in thought.
The winter water was very cold, and it left red marks on her hand.
Efren didn't run the water for long because the burn wasn't severe.
There was only a small blister.
Since they were in the hospital, he went to buy some burn ointment and returned to find Elissa still standing by the sink, lost in thought.
"Elissa, let's go. I'll put some ointment on you," Efren said with concern.
Elissa didn't move.
Efren watched her for a moment, realizing she hadn't heard him, and gently pulled her away.
Elissa snapped back to reality and thanked him.
"Elissa, no need to be polite with me." Efren carefully applied the burn ointment to Elissa.
He even blew on it to avoid causing her pain.
Elissa had suffered worse injuries before.
But seeing Efren's careful demeanor, she felt a warmth in her heart. She reached out and patted his head. "You win."
Efren smiled. "Elissa, let the past be the past. Time can't go back; we need to look forward."
"Okay." Elissa nodded.
After applying the ointment, they left the hospital.
Simon, hiding in a corner with Francis, watched them.
He sighed softly.
When Rainey found Efren's house, Cinda told her that Elissa had returned to Maple Valley, so she hurriedly instructed the driver to head there.
The taxi didn't enter the community and stopped at the gate.
Efren got out first and then helped Elissa out.
As they were about to walk in, a voice stopped them. "Elissa."
The voice sounded familiar, and she turned to look.
Sure enough, it was Rainey.
"Hello, Mrs. Peterson," Elissa greeted politely.
"You don't need to pretend to be good in front of me. I know your personality," Rainey said coldly.
Rainey and Francis were indeed family, with similar personalities.
Elissa's politeness didn't work, so she asked directly, "What do you want?"
"Let's find a warm place to sit and talk."
Elissa refused, "Just get to the point. I flew back all the way and I'm tired. I don't want to sit and talk."
Rainey had a preconceived dislike for Elissa and could never see her in a good light.
Plus, with Elissa's temperament, she was not fit to marry into the Peterson family.
"I know you and Francis have broken up, but there's something you need to do."
Elissa waited for her to continue, and she said, "Go persuade Francis to cancel the wedding with Jessa. You can name your price."
Elissa didn't hold back. "I want ten billion dollars."
"Are you crazy?"
"Then I want to marry Francis."
"You're even crazier."
Elissa was speechless. "Then what do you want me to say? Isn't this a bit stingy? After all, your family is wealthy."
Rainey took a deep breath. "I can see you still like Francis, and he has feelings for you. So if you persuade him, he will listen."
Elissa laughed in exasperation.
Rainey was treating her like an employee.
"You've probably heard the saying that marriage should be respected and protected, not easily broken. I don't want to mess up Francis's marriage," Elissa retorted.
Rainey's elegance was slipping. "How dare you be sarcastic with me!"
Elissa was just stating the facts.
"Mrs. Peterson, let's not stand here in the cold wind. I can't do what you ask, please leave," Elissa said.
"Why can't you?"
If Elissa couldn't do it, there was no hope.
Rainey had to lower her stance. "If you can stop Francis from marrying Jessa, I'll give you ten billion dollars."
That sounded really tempting, but Elissa just couldn't do it.
"To be honest, I just came back from Harmony General Hospital and asked Francis. He won't cancel the wedding," Elissa said with a hint of sadness.
*************************
（I highly recommend a captivating book that I couldn't put down for three days and nights. It's incredibly engaging and a must-read. The title of the book is "The Gambling King's Daughter" You can find it by searching for it in the search bar.
Here is the synopsis of the book:
My husband and I have been married for two years, but he has always been very cold towards me. Not only that, he has also been having affairs with other women. I lost all hope in him and threw a divorce agreement in his face. I'm done with this; let's get a divorce!
After the divorce, I not only gained my freedom but also inherited billions in wealth! At this point, my ex-husband came back to me, kneeling in front of me and begging for my forgiveness.
Should I forgive him?）
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