Chapter 387 Sorry, I Have a Partner
"What are you doing!" Efren immediately stepped forward and separated the two, shielding Elissa behind him.
Jerry pulled Francis back.
Francis, who initially wanted to pull Elissa back, stopped his actions.
Efren, usually gentle and well-behaved, glared at Francis with rage and shouted, "This is my house. Get out!"
Francis calmly wiped the moisture from his lips with his thumb, but his gaze towards Elissa was intense. "Elissa, come with me."
Elissa just wanted to hit him right now. "Efren, call the police."
Efren obediently complied immediately.
Francis tried to step forward again but was pulled back by Jerry.
Hope stood in front of Elissa, protecting her. "Mr. Peterson, you two have already broken up. If you keep forcing her, I'll have to inform your elders to deal with you."
"I didn't agree to the breakup." Francis's expression darkened, "Elissa, if you want to relax here for a while, that's fine."
"If you want to be with him," he pointed with his long finger, "that's impossible."
Elissa spat forcefully and wiped her mouth vigorously, saying, "How can you say you didn't agree to the breakup? You personally agreed that day at my house!"
"That was conditional."
"I don't care about your conditions!" Elissa interrupted angrily. "You agreed anyway! Stop using your so-called love to control me. If you truly cared, you wouldn't make me uncomfortable."
"Your conditions are just another way to control my freedom. I won't be controlled by anyone. My only family is Hope, while you have the entire Peterson family. If things get ugly, it will be your family that suffers, not mine!" she added.
If Francis was afraid of that, he wouldn't be standing here today. "Then try me."
Elissa couldn't find the words for a moment, so Hope spoke up, "Jerry, there aren't enough rooms here. Why don't you and Francis go to stay at a hotel in the city? And Mr. Peterson, being so distinguished, surely can't sleep on a wooden bed in the countryside."
Jerry knew he had to take a side.
But before he could speak, Francis took a quick step forward, grabbed Elissa's wrist, and started pulling her outside.
Efren quickly grabbed Elissa's other hand.
"Let go!" Francis's voice was extremely cold as he pulled Elissa towards him.
Seeing Elissa frown in pain, Efren quickly let go. "Elissa, I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing when you did nothing wrong?" Then Elissa looked at Francis and mocked him, "Some people have made mistakes that everyone knows about, yet they still don't apologize."
Francis immediately retorted, "How have I not apologized to you? I almost got on my knees for you. If you want, I'll kneel right now."
Elissa wasn't going to fall into his trap.
If she agreed, it would be a roundabout way of forgiving him.
"Elissa, don't worry." Efren glared at Francis but spoke gently to Elissa, "The police will be here soon."
The police weren't coming; Simon had led them away from the door and was negotiating with them.
Francis continued to pull Elissa away.
Hope stepped forward to stop him, but Elissa said, "I'll handle this myself."
Elissa instinctively knew the police wouldn't solve the problem, so she decided to handle it herself.
She stared into his eyes and asked, "Francis, do you like me so much, that you can't live without me?"
Francis didn't hesitate for a moment. "Yes."
Elissa smiled. "Alright, since you love me so much, marry me."
"Elissa, you can't marry him!" Efren was the first to object.
Elissa gave him a look, and Efren obediently fell silent.
Francis watched their interaction, his eyes growing colder. "I'll marry you."
Elissa said, "Dare to marry me right now?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Elissa paused slightly. "After we get married, I won't interact with your family. I don't like them. I won't attend any social events as your wife, I won't handle your affairs, and I won't cook."
"None of that is necessary. I'll cook, and if I'm not around, I'll have Velvet Gourmet deliver." Francis's expression softened a bit. "Any other demands?"
Elissa gritted her teeth. "I want a billion dollars as a dowry."
"Fine."
Elissa felt like she was causing trouble for herself. "Well, your family will definitely make things difficult for me."
"They won't, not with me around."
Elissa looked to Hope for help.
Hope hadn't expected Elissa to end up in such a difficult conversation with Francis.
She looked at Jerry, who smirked. "Hope, I'm not City Hall; I don't handle marriages."
Before Hope could glare at him, he added, "They need to register their marriage at Maple Valley, but we just arrived with so many people. How about we have some fun first and then go back to get married? What do you think, Hope?"
Hope nodded.
Jerry told Francis, "Elissa agreed to marry you. Everyone heard it; she won't run away. And it takes time to prepare a billion dollars, doesn't it? I got married, and Hope controls the finances, so I can't lend you any money."
Francis did want to borrow money. The liquid assets he had didn't amount to a billion dollars, and if he moved other funds, his family would find out.
He wanted to marry Elissa first to secure the deal, then negotiate with his family.
Jerry seemed to be helping him, but in reality, he was siding with Hope.
He had asked Jerry in vain.
Jerry always listened to Hope.
But he couldn't blame Jerry.
He was almost the same; in a similar situation, he would act the same as Jerry.
"You agreed to marry me, so you're my fiancée now," Francis held Elissa's hands firmly and said, "You need to keep your distance from other men."
Elissa wanted to slap herself for what she had just said.
She had thought his family would never agree to their marriage. As long as he hesitated and said he needed time, she would seize that point and force him to give up on her.
How did she end up becoming his fiancée?
Efren was a bundle of worry and anger, frustrated that he couldn't protect the Elissa he cared about. "Elissa, don't agree to this. I'll find a way."
He didn't sound confident.
If Hope couldn't handle it, what could he do?
"Garry, tonight is our girls' night. There isn't enough room for everyone here. Why don't you take the guys out for some fun?" Madison spoke up, and Hope gave Jerry a look.
He had no choice but to leave with Garry, taking Francis with them.
Francis didn't want to let go, but Jerry whispered in his ear, "If you still want to get married, leave now."
Only then did Francis let go.
But once outside, he was still reluctant. "Efren is still there."
"This is his house," Garry said.
Francis fell silent.
Elissa broke down in the yard. "I was crazy just now! Why did I say that!"
Hope understood her. "You did the right thing. It's not a dead end yet. Let me ask you, do you really not like him anymore?"
Elissa nodded, then shook her head.
She glanced at Efren and then nodded again.
Hope understood. "Let me ask again."
"Do you feel that you can't be with him in the end because of the class difference, so you want to completely break up with him, right?"
"Yes." Elissa nodded frantically. "You understand me the best."
Hope patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, you won't get married smoothly."
Elissa asked, "What do you mean?"
Hope replied, "Francis's father, Jacob, has a lot of influence. With just a word from him, who at City Hall would dare to marry you two?"
"That's right." Elissa had been blinded by anger just now.
Now, she wasn't worried at all.
Efren also breathed a sigh of relief but still apologized to Elissa.
Elissa waved her hand. "Let's not talk about this anymore."
But she still apologized to Cinda, "Sorry for disturbing you."
Cinda smiled and said, "I've lived to this age, and I'm not scared by such a scene. I'll go make the beds for you. I happen to have a room with a big bed that can fit a few of you, so you can talk comfortably."
Elissa went to help.
Efren poured tea for Hope and Madison and brought some snacks.
He also made some food for Elsa.
Then he went to the house across the way.
Hope and Madison exchanged a glance.
When Elissa came out, they both smiled at her.
Elissa took a sip of tea, not understanding. "What do you mean?"
Madison asked, "Are you not going to hold him accountable for what he did at the Oceancrest City Hotel?"
Elissa glanced at Hope. "Didn't Hope tell you about my bet?"
"She did," Madison said, "but I think letting it go because of a bet is a bit hasty, isn't it? Efren, from what I've seen, is kind-hearted and hasn't gone astray despite his hardships. But what he did to you was terribly wrong."
Elissa nodded. "Yes, but he did it for me."
"Francis has a complicated relationship with Jessa. If I were determined not to break up with Francis, I would definitely mind. But after deciding to break up, I think Efren didn't do anything wrong. The gap between Francis and me is too big. Love alone can't solve many problems. Efren helped me see the risks between Francis and me."
Madison understood and asked, "Hope said you don't want to know about the wedding?"
Elissa shook her head. "What's there to know? Francis and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. I don't need Jessa to shield me from others' malice, but if he insists on doing so, I can't stop him. I just think that once I completely break up with him, Jessa won't need to do these things anymore, and his enemies won't target me."
The wedding didn't happen.
But Madison thought there was no need to mention it. She continued to feed Elsa.
After making the bed, Efren came out and took Elsa to play so they could drink and chat.
Compared to the cheerful and harmonious atmosphere here, the other side was a bit bleak.
When Garry wasn't filming, he had a regular lifestyle.
Besides, young people had their own ways of doing things.
When it came to love, outsiders shouldn't interfere too much.
Following Madison's instructions, he took Francis to the hotel.
Then he went to sleep.
Francis and Jerry entered a room.
Francis lit a cigarette and sat on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window.
Jerry opened a bottle of wine, poured himself a glass, and gave one to Francis.
Francis took the cigarette from his mouth, picked up the glass, and drank it all.
Jerry's glass had just touched his lips.
He smiled. "Showing me this look is useless."
Francis ignored him, staring at the night view outside, each puff of smoke filled with worry.
Jerry glanced at his expression.
Although his expression was always subtle, even his smiles were more reserved than most people's. Jerry could only guess at his emotional changes.
"Elissa agreed to marry you. Shouldn't you be happy and toasting with me? What's with all this gloom?" Jerry said.
Francis stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.
He got up, took the whole bottle of wine, filled his glass, and drank it all in one go.
Jerry pulled up a chair and sat across from him.
He casually swirled his wine glass and said, "You better drink slowly. If you throw up, I won't take care of you."
"No need." Francis said coldly and drank straight from the bottle.
Jerry raised his hand to rub his eyebrow and said, "If you throw up and pass out, I'll get a female service staff to bathe and change you, then take some photos for Elissa to see."
Francis slammed the bottle down on the coffee table.
Jerry's wine swirling didn't stop, his posture relaxed. "You can only vent your anger on me now. As a friend, I'll reluctantly tell you something."
"Hope said Elissa didn't even ask about the wedding," he paused deliberately, then finished, "She doesn't care at all."
Since Jessa schemed against him, Francis had been constantly angry.
"I don't see you as a friend." Francis said irritably, "You only listen to Hope."
Jerry took pride in it. "Yes, I do. You won't understand this joy until you marry Elissa."
Since Jerry got married, Francis felt he couldn't communicate with him.
He continued drinking.
Jerry kicked him. "Elissa doesn't want to hear it, and Hope won't say it. You should take the initiative to tell Elissa about Jessa. No matter what she thinks, you need to show your attitude."
Francis rubbed his face in frustration. "Did you see today? Did I have a chance to speak?"
Talking about it made him even angrier.
"I don't get it. My family opposes me being with Elissa, but aren't my conditions much better than Efren's? How could she choose him over me?" Francis said irritably.
Jerry said casually, "Maybe Elissa likes younger men."
Francis was silent for a while before saying, "Leave my room."
Jerry finished his drink and stood up.
He placed the glass on the coffee table, one hand in his pocket.
He smiled meaningfully and asked, "Are you sure you don't need my advice?"
Francis didn't hesitate. "No need."
Jerry walked backward towards the door, saying, "You're being watched by your family. Even if you have the documents, you can't get married in Maple Valley. I had a way, but since you don't need it, forget it."
Francis immediately got up, walked over, and pressed the door Jerry had just opened.
The door, which had just opened a crack, slammed shut.
Jerry crossed his arms and tilted his head. "Sorry, I have a partner."
Francis realized his inappropriate action and immediately stepped back, putting some distance between them.
He directly asked, "What way do you have?"
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