Chapter 393 When He Returns, There Will Be a Big Commotion
The relationship between Francis and Elissa was not made public.
It was normal for the employees of the Hammer Group to be unaware.
He didn't answer, just took the phone from the front desk.
Melinda stood beside him, also silent.
But to others, this behavior was no different from tacit approval.
Some even congratulated them, but Francis ignored them.
He didn't go upstairs, just turned around and left.
This time, he didn't even ride in Melinda's car.
The scent in Melinda's car was too strong, making him dizzy.
Melinda followed him all the way into a coffee shop.
He didn't go directly to Elissa's place, but Melinda knew he was just covering up.
But she wasn't worried.
After all, the Peterson family would never agree to him being with Elissa.
"Are you really not going to take my advice?" Melinda sighed. "Honestly, anyone else wouldn't be as tolerant as I am. Marrying me is also a good way to protect her. Your enemies will think twice when they see us united."
Francis was speechless, thinking, 'There's no way I would be with her. Dream on!'
After a while, Melinda spoke again, "Did you know she left Maple Valley?"
A dark light flashed in Francis's eyes, but he still didn't speak.
Melinda caught a slight change in him and slightly curled her lips.
She thought he could pretend not to care.
But it was just that.
"The Peterson family knows her whereabouts. She can't hide from them. You can't find her, but I can arrange a meeting for you. I hope you can show some sincerity," Melinda continued.
Francis looked indifferent. "Sincerity? Marry you?"
Melinda coaxed gently. "There are so many benefits to our marriage, isn't it good? If you want to marry her in the future, we can get a divorce. As long as you gain control of the Peterson family, they can't do anything to you. Teddy doesn't just listen to Jacob. Doesn't your Peterson family have an unwritten rule that subordinates must follow the orders of the person in power?"
"You've done quite a bit of research." Francis stirred his coffee. "Unfortunately, you can't fool me."
Melinda's face changed. "What do you mean?"
Francis took a sip of his coffee. "Exactly what I said."
"Do you think the conditions I proposed are just bait, and that I will change my attitude after marriage?" Melinda asked.
Francis didn't respond.
Melinda laughed, "They say the Peterson family is all about being calm and putting the family first. And you, Francis, are especially calculating, always thinking ten steps ahead. Seems the rumors are true."
"But you're overthinking. I don't need to stay with someone who doesn't love me. I have money, looks, and power. There's nothing I can't get," she added.
Francis sneered, "Yes, you're really something. Otherwise, why would so many men abroad willingly endure your infidelity and still think it's their fault?"
Melinda had never been mocked to her face before.
"Francis, think carefully. If you reject me, others won't be as tolerant. When the Peterson family sees you have no intention of settling down, Elissa, whom you protect, will be in danger. The Peterson family knows her exact location," she said.
"That's not your concern. Take care of yourself. If I find out you harm her, you'll be held accountable for your actions." Francis left these cold words and strode away.
Melinda stood up and stormed off, each click of her high heels echoing her intense anger.
The harder Francis was to win over, the more determined she became to do just that.
Francis went straight back to the Peterson family.
The Peterson family members were somewhat uneasy. When they saw him return alone, they were both shocked and suspicious.
"Didn't Melinda come back with you?" Rainey asked.
Francis didn't answer her, just walked upstairs.
Rainey, Wesley, and Elysia exchanged glances, all feeling something was wrong.
Francis actually returned to the Peterson family.
Rainey saw Teddy coming in behind and immediately asked, "You followed Francis the whole time. Did you notice anything unusual?"
Teddy bent slightly, his face respectful with a smile. "No. Mr. Peterson didn't even go to Elissa's place. He just went to the Hammer Group, then to a coffee shop, stayed with Ms. Collins for a while, and then took a cab back."
This was completely out of character for Francis. He was usually calm, but deep down, there was a streak of madness, especially when it came to Elissa. How could he do nothing? That made it even stranger. Francis's odd behavior had lasted for days, making the situation feel eerie.
After that day, Melinda was also nowhere to be seen.
Rainey felt this marriage was going to fail and started looking for the next match.
Elissa knew nothing about what was happening in Maple Valley.
One day, the landlord's daughter, Jillie Sinclair, brought her a letter.
She had a hunch it was from Hope, and sure enough, it was.
The letter was simple. Hope mentioned having a great time these past few days and was preparing to return to Maple Valley. She also received Elissa's letter and was relieved to know she was doing well.
Elissa was touched.
She dealt with the letter and was about to watch a comedy to relax.
Just then, Jillie ran over again. "Elissa, there's a lady looking for you."
Elissa's first reaction to "lady" was Rainey.
When she reached the door, Elissa saw a stranger—a woman about her age. It was Melinda, dressed entirely in red, even her hair, reminding Elissa of her former self. Now, in an effort to keep a low profile, Elissa wore only black, gray, and white. It was clear to Elissa that Melinda was here with ill intentions.
"Hello, may I ask who you are?" Elissa asked.
Melinda looked Elissa up and down with a hint of disdain. "I am Francis's fiancée, Melinda Collins."
Elissa was stunned—not because Melinda was Francis's fiancée, but because Melinda had found her here. Did this mean she was exposed?
Melinda seemed to see through her thoughts and said, "The Peterson family also knows you're here."
Elissa was shocked. Why did she come here then!
She then closed her eyes in despair.
"You don't need to sneak around anymore. The Peterson family has been watching you. They know wherever you go," Melinda said.
Elissa was silent for a while, then asked, "So you're here to send me away?"
"That's right." Melinda raised her chin slightly, looking down on her. "Then the Peterson family won't hold it against you and won't watch you anymore.
Elissa was quite tempted, but she was still hesitant about going abroad.
After all, abroad was not like being in the country, where it was easy to stay in touch and send messages to Hope.
But if she didn't go abroad, she would always be watched by the Peterson family, and who knew when they might deal with her.
"Can you help me pass a message to Hope? Make sure Jerry doesn't find out," Elissa said.
Melinda agreed.
Elissa went to pack her things.
When the car arrived at a dock, she asked, "Not taking a plane?"
Melinda replied, "A plane would leave a trace, and Francis would find you. Once the ship reaches the border and private waters, it will be harder to track."
Elissa remembered when Cecil kidnapped Hope—she was scared. After all, Melinda wasn't someone she could completely trust.
Melinda noticed Elissa's worry. "I thought it took a lot of guts for someone with your background to go after someone like Francis. But now I see you're just timid after all."
Elissa thought to herself, 'I really regret getting involved with him now. Whatever, I'll just get on the boat first.'
Melinda smiled with satisfaction, then her eyes turned sinister as she instructed the captain. "When we reach the border, throw her into the sea to feed the sharks."
No matter where Elissa went, if Francis wanted to find her, it was just a matter of time.
Only if Elissa completely disappeared from this world would Francis gradually forget her.
Hope received a call from an unknown number. Thinking it might be Elissa, she avoided Jerry because she didn't want to upset him.
When she answered, she heard a girl's voice. "Is this Hope?"
Hope replied gently, "Yes, who is this?"
"I'm a friend of Elissa."
Hope thought Elissa couldn't contact her directly and asked, "What do you need?"
Jillie suddenly became anxious. "You must save Elissa!"
Hope frowned slightly. "Don't worry, tell me slowly."
Jillie couldn't calm down and told her everything.
Hope caught the key points and shivered. "Elissa left with a lady who said she was Francis's fiancée?"
"Yes."
Jillie was almost in tears. "She told me she would call to say goodnight at nine, but it's already ten past nine, and she hasn't called."
"Don't worry, maybe something came up."
Hope comforted Jillie while asking Jerry to investigate.
Jillie was extremely anxious. "She told me to call you right away, even if it was just a second past nine. Please, you have to help her."
"Okay, don't worry. I'm looking into her location. Don't cry, go to sleep, and I'll call you with any news."
Jillie refused to sleep, but Hope reassured her, "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to Elissa."
Only then did Jillie agree to hang up.
Hope quickly asked Jerry, "Have you found anything?"
Jerry nodded. "I'm going to the Peterson family."
Hope hurried to follow. "I'm coming too."
Unexpectedly, the Peterson family was in chaos.
Rainey's first words to Jerry were an accusation. "Did you help Francis escape?"
Jerry spread his hands. "Rainey, you can check. I just flew back from Regal City today, and I still have the ticket."
Rainey realized she was being irrational and apologized, "Jerry, I was too anxious."
Jerry asked, "Francis isn't home?"
"He ran away."
Jerry raised an eyebrow. "Even with Teddy watching him?"
Despite the situation, Teddy still had a smile on his face. "It was my oversight."
Jerry chuckled. "Don't worry, everyone. Francis probably just went to save someone. He'll come back after."
Rainey asked, "Who is he saving? Elissa?"
She had just learned that Melinda went to find Elissa to send her abroad.
They were worried Francis would go crazy and leave the country with Elissa.
Jerry saw their expressions and knew they were aware of Melinda's plan to send Elissa away.
"I suggest, while Francis is looking for Elissa, you should deal with the Collins family. Otherwise, when Francis returns, there will be trouble," Jerry said.
After eating the meal brought by the waiter, Elissa felt sleepy. She slept fitfully and woke up at nine-thirty. Remembering her instructions to Jillie, she quickly tried to make a call. But suddenly, the door was kicked open, and several men came in and dragged her out.
"What are you doing!" Elissa shouted.
They had planned to reach the border, but a storm delayed them, altering their course slightly.
This delay caused the drug's effect to wear off.
But it didn't matter. Throwing a weak woman like Elissa into the sea was easy for them.
Dragged to the deck, Elissa became calm.
She knew she couldn't fully trust Melinda.
No wealthy lady would tolerate her future husband always thinking about another woman.
Luckily, she had told Jillie.
She believed Hope was already on her way to save her.
"Boss, she looks good. Since she's going to die anyway, why not..." The captain looked at Elissa's curvy figure and swallowed hard.
Melinda hadn't said they couldn't touch Elissa.
Since Elissa was going to die anyway, no one would ever find out if they did something to her.
Elissa realized their ill intentions and backed away; her back hit the cold railing.
The men laughed, "You can't escape. Don't worry, after we have our fun, we'll make sure your end is quick and painless"
"Boss, you go first."
Elissa slapped away the captain's hand.
She tried to get up and run, but the drug's effect hadn't fully worn off, and her legs were weak.
The captain had already torn her collar when she kicked him. The men held her down as the captain tried to remove her pants.
"Get away!" She struggled, but couldn't break free from the men. She shouted, "I can give you money!"
The men laughed, thinking no one could come, and they weren't afraid of wasting time. "How much can you give me? The Melinda who sent you here gave us ten million dollars."
Elissa's eyes widened. Ten million dollars for her life—it seemed Melinda was determined to kill her.
"I can give you more than Melinda," Elissa said.
She didn't have that much money, but she could bluff.
As long as she could buy some time, Hope would come to save her.
But she didn't expect the captain to take out a card. "Transfer the money now. If it's more than ten million dollars, we'll let you go."
Elissa's mouth twitched.
She didn't have ten million dollars, let alone more.
"My card has a limit. I can't transfer that much at once, but I promise I can give more than Melinda," she replied.
The captain patted Elissa's face. "Melinda transferred ten million dollars instantly."
Elissa gritted her teeth.
People like Melinda faced no limits on transferring funds.
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