Chapter 391 Deciding to Leave
Elissa didn't let out a sigh of relief until she was out of the mansion's gates. She wiped the cold sweat from her brow and walked briskly toward the main road.
She had heard about Francis's family background before and had some idea of what to expect, but seeing it in person was overwhelming. At this moment, she felt that breaking up with Francis was the right decision and was relieved that it happened quickly. Otherwise, if their relationship had continued, the Peterson family would have surely been the end of her.
Just then, a car horn startled Elissa. When she saw Steven in the driver's seat, her racing heart began to calm down.
"Are you here on business?" Elissa asked.
"No, I'm here to pick you up," Steven replied.
Elissa got into the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and asked, "Did Mr. Hammer send you?"
Steven nodded. "Ms. Wilson, you can't stay at your place recently. Pack your luggage, and I'll take you to Tranquil Haven for a temporary stay."
Elissa thought of the scene at the Peterson family just now and asked, "To guard against the Peterson family?"
"Yes, even if they want to cause you trouble, they will be cautious on Jerry's turf."
"Although we can't guard against Mr. Peterson, he should be too busy to come after you recently."
Elissa felt that Tranquil Haven was not safe either.
As long as Francis didn't change his mind, the Peterson family wouldn't let her go easily.
Steven saw Elissa's gloomy face from the corner of his eye and comforted her, "Ms. Wilson, I will be at Tranquil Haven recently, so you can rest assured."
Elissa wasn't thinking about that, but she didn't know how to tell Steven, so she just nodded.
When she got to her place, she packed briefly and went to Tranquil Haven.
"The room is already prepared." Steven gave her his phone number. "If you need anything, call or message me."
Elissa nodded.
After seeing Steven off and closing the door, Hope's video call came through.
"Hope."
"Are you at Tranquil Haven?"
Elissa lay on the bed, propped her phone on the headboard, and nodded.
Hope saw her pale face and asked, "Were you scared?"
She nodded. "Yes."
Francis would naturally have his way of dealing with the Peterson family issue. But Elissa didn't want to continue, and Hope wouldn't interfere to persuade her.
"Stay at Tranquil Haven for now. We'll come back tomorrow," Hope said.
"No, you guys follow your schedule and come back after having fun. I'm an adult; I can handle anything that comes up."
Hope smiled and asked, "You don't blame me for telling Efren those things, do you?"
Elissa said, "Even if you didn't say it, I would have. I can't hold him back because of me. And Cinda was already sick, and she got a bit scared because of my situation these past two days."
Hope said, "I left some money for them."
Elissa smiled. "You know me well."
They looked at each other and suddenly had nothing to say.
After a while, Elissa suddenly spoke, "Hope, I want to..."
Hope interrupted her, "Don't tell me. Just do what you want to do."
Elissa understood Hope's intention.
If she left Maple Valley, Francis would ask Hope first if he couldn't find her.
If she didn't tell Hope, Francis couldn't trace her through Hope.
"Things will be better once this is over," Elissa said.
Hope nodded. "Stay safe."
Hope wasn't just telling her to stay safe at Tranquil Haven but also to stay safe when she left for an unfamiliar city.
Elissa smiled. "Got it."
Francis had his freedom restricted, and several of his subordinates were also confined.
All his electronic devices were confiscated, even the television. The windows were secured, and there were daily patrols. There was no chance of escape from either the front door or the backyard. He lay on the bed, one hand under his head, staring at the ceiling.
Jessa wasn't as confined as Francis. She initially thought about using this opportunity to escape, but given her capabilities, escaping from such tight security was no easy task.
The guards at the mansion's entrance had been specifically briefed by the Peterson family, and the backyard walls were now impossible to scale.
It was clear that the Peterson family was taking extreme measures this time, determined to prevent any further contact between Francis and Elissa.
Thinking of what Francis said just now, Jessa couldn't help but sneer.
Francis couldn't live without Elissa?
They grew up together and didn't love each other to that extent.
How long had Francis known Elissa?
The most infuriating thing was that Francis, who was always calm and rational, went crazy for Elissa.
And Efren, he was indeed useless. She handed him the opportunity on a silver platter, but he still couldn't get Elissa.
Jessa secretly vowed that she wouldn't let anyone have it easy.
She picked up her phone and made a call to cover up, then took out an old phone from under the bed and made an important call.
Elissa listened to Hope's words.
She became even more aware that this time she couldn't ask anyone for help. As long as she left traces, she felt it was only a matter of time before Francis found her.
She couldn't use her ID to buy tickets, whether for a plane or a train, as they would be traced.
In the end, she decided to take a bus.
To avoid drawing attention, she didn't even take a suitcase, just a black backpack.
Steven saw Elissa leave and reported to Jerry.
Jerry saw the message and asked Hope beside him, "Do you know Elissa..."
"I don't know." Hope immediately interrupted him.
Jerry smiled, "I haven't even asked."
Hope retorted, "Whatever you ask, I don't know."
Jerry felt a headache.
He sat next to her and hugged her. "When Francis gets out of the Peterson family and can't find Elissa, he will definitely bother us."
Hope stuffed a piece of apple into his mouth. "Let him search. I don't know anything. What else can he do?"
Jerry pinched her delicate nose. "It's not necessarily safe outside; you shouldn't let her run out alone."
Hope remarked, "The dangers she's faced her whole life have come from those closest to her. To her, Maple Valley is far more dangerous than the outside world."
Jerry didn't want to deal with this.
He couldn't force Elissa and Francis to continue their relationship.
Elissa switched SIM cards and went to the bank to withdraw cash. Mobile payments can be tracked, but using cash is relatively safer.
Then, she got on a bus that didn't require ID.
After a ten-hour bumpy ride, she arrived in a small county.
She deliberately went to the train station and bought a ticket to Maple Valley, but got off halfway and settled in Suncrest City, next to Maple Valley.
She found a guesthouse and tried to pay extra to avoid registering her ID.
The owner disagreed, so she tearfully told a melodramatic love story.
The owner's wife happened to hear it and felt sorry for her being hurt by a powerful bad man, so she immediately arranged for her. "Elissa, if someone asks, just say you're my cousin. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
"Thank you."
Just then, Elissa saw Efren and asked in surprise, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Ms. Graves?"
"Grandma is fine, Jenny Faye from next door is helping me look after her. I have an audition here, so I came over. I didn't expect to run into you," Efren replied.
Seeing Efren's happy expression, Elissa couldn't bring herself to smile.
"Efren, about what Hope told you..."
Efren interrupted her, "From now on, you're just my friend. If you need anything, just come to me. Even though I don't have power or influence, I will protect you with my life."
Elissa felt complicated. "There's no need to go that far."
"Elissa, why did you suddenly come to Suncrest City? On a business trip?"
Efren tried to change the subject, but Elissa couldn't avoid clarifying things.
"Efren, I think we should keep our distance. From the moment you started having feelings for me, if I can't reciprocate, we can't even be friends. Previously, when I went to Regal City with you, it was because I wanted to know the truth about that night in Oceancrest City, and I did need to relax a bit. That's all there was to it." Elissa said.
Efren's smile turned bitter.
He had thought he would never have the chance to see Elissa again.
He only prayed to God for her to be safe and happy. If he could achieve something in the future, and if she was not happy, he would do everything to take her away.
But now, fate had brought them together again, yet she didn't care about him at all.
"Elissa..."
Elissa interrupted, "I can't stay here. Pretend you never saw me."
After saying that, she hurriedly left.
The owner thought she had something urgent and stopped her from asking.
Elissa only said she had an emergency.
The owner refunded her money. "Elissa, take care."
"I will."
Elissa asked around and finally found a private courtyard for rent. It didn't require computer registration, just a signed rental contract. Since she couldn't go out often, she paid extra for the landlord to prepare meals.
Moreover, she couldn't use social media either.
Fortunately, the company was now on track, and Hope could handle it alone.
If she couldn't manage, Jerry could help.
She only connected to the Wi-Fi and watched a movie until she fell asleep.
The Peterson family.
Lunchtime.
Teddy came to Francis's room.
Francis, with nothing to do, was sitting on the sofa reading a book.
But Teddy felt that Francis couldn't possibly be focused on that book.
"Mr. Peterson, Mrs. Peterson asked you to come downstairs for lunch," Teddy said.
Francis refused, "I'm not going on a blind date."
Teddy had expected this and wasn't surprised. He always had a gentle smile on his face, which Francis didn't understand. Someone like Teddy, who spent most of his time in the shadows and had undergone rigorous training, should logically have been able to keep his emotions hidden.
"Mr. Peterson, please. If I have to use force, you might get hurt," Teddy said.
Francis closed the book and looked at his smiling face, feeling a surge of anger.
"Teddy, I suggest you be more serious."
"I'll take your suggestion," Teddy replied.
Francis didn't move. "You are not serious, and you lack authority."
Teddy's smile remained as he stepped forward.
He moved swiftly.
Francis got up to dodge, but Teddy's next move followed closely.
Francis took a step back, barely avoiding it.
Teddy pursued relentlessly.
Francis had been trained, but Teddy could be considered half his teacher.
Some moves were taught by Teddy.
Even though Teddy was older, Francis couldn't defend against him.
In the end, Teddy escorted him downstairs.
Only at the last two steps did Teddy let go of him.
Francis flexed his twisted wrist and turned to go back upstairs.
Teddy blocked the stairs, still smiling. "Mr. Peterson, your blind date is already here. If I have to drag you over, it will be very embarrassing for you."
Francis paused for a few seconds, then turned and walked down the last two steps to the living room.
Jacob wasn't there. His grandparents and Rainey were on the sofa with three others. He didn't look closely and just leaned against the staircase.
Rainey smiled apologetically, got up, and pulled Francis over, seating him next to a young woman.
"This is Melinda Collins, the granddaughter of Wesley's comrade. You used to set off fireworks together when you were kids," Rainey said.
Francis didn't even look at her and said indifferently, "Setting off fireworks as kids was something many children did together. We all wore the same school uniforms too. Does that mean everyone was a couple?"
Rainey patted Francis. "Melinda went abroad for a while and just came back. After lunch, take her around the courtyard and reminisce."
Francis replied expressionlessly, "Mom, if you let me out of this door, I won't come back."
Rainey didn't want to mention his situation with Elissa, especially in front of the Collins family.
Even if they might become relatives, family dignity was most important.
"Where can you go if you don't come home? Don't joke."
Francis didn't say anything else and went upstairs.
"Eat first." Rainey pulled him back.
Francis shook off Rainey's hand. "I'm not hungry."
Rainey gritted her teeth.
He hadn't eaten since last night, and now he was skipping lunch. It was clearly a hunger strike protest.
"Even if you're not hungry, sit at the table."
Francis acted as if he didn't hear and continued upstairs.
Rainey wanted to say something, but Melinda stood up. "I'll take it up to him. We can have a private chat."
"Okay." Rainey beamed, picked out Francis's favorite dishes, and asked Melinda what she liked.
Melinda chose a couple of items. "I pay attention to my figure, so I don't like overeating."
Rainey was satisfied with Melinda, except for one thing: she worried that Melinda's slim figure might make it difficult to have children.
"You should eat more. Being too thin can make you sick," Rainey said.
Melinda smiled politely and didn't take more food. She carried the tray upstairs.
Francis had locked the door.
No matter how many times she knocked, he didn't respond.
In the end, Teddy picked the lock.
After letting Melinda in, he quickly replaced the lock and thoughtfully closed the door.
Francis didn't like strangers in his space.
Melinda's heavy perfume was also something he disliked.
Feeling irritated, he lit a cigarette.
Melinda spoke, "Sorry, I don't like people smoking around me."
Francis ignored her and continued smoking.
Melinda tried to open the window for ventilation but found it wouldn't open.
She had to try the door, but it wouldn't open either.
"I think, even if you're against the blind date, you shouldn't be so rude."
Francis still ignored her. Melinda walked over and took the cigarette from his mouth, extinguishing it in the ashtray.
He finally spoke, "Who asked you to come up?"
Melinda wasn't bothered by his coldness. "I can save you from repeated blind dates. Isn't that reason enough for you to show me some courtesy?"
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