Chapter 399 Have You Fallen in Love with Me?
A knock on the door echoed through the room.
Francis got up to answer it.
Hayden handed over a plate of spaghetti.
Sensing the tension in the air, he mustered up the courage to ask, "You didn't have much for dinner. Want me to ask the hotel to send something up?"
Francis nodded and listed a few things he wanted.
Hayden took note and went to instruct the hotel staff.
He ran into Felix on his way back and struck up a conversation.
"Mr. Peterson is really attentive to Ms. Wilson. He doesn't even know what he likes, but he remembers what she likes."
Felix, munching on his spaghetti, replied, "Doesn't Mr. Peterson like Mexican food?"
He recalled Elissa mentioning it the last time they were at Francis's place.
Hayden rolled his eyes. "You're such an idiot. That's what Ms. Wilson likes. Now, whatever she likes, Mr. Peterson likes."
Felix shrugged. "Alright then."
Hayden was exasperated.
He decided to stop talking.
Inside the room, Francis placed the spaghetti on the coffee table and called Elissa over to eat.
Elissa had eaten quite a bit for dinner, but it had been a while, and she was hungry again.
She walked over to the coffee table and sat down on the floor.
Francis had already unwrapped the food and handed her a fork.
Elissa took it, her expression complicated.
She stirred the spaghetti a bit, hesitating before taking a bite.
"If you don't want this, I can have them get something else. The hotel will send up your favorites soon. You can start with this."
Elissa couldn't quite pinpoint her feelings. She shook her head. "It's not that..."
She paused and then asked, "Do you want some?"
The gloom in Francis's eyes lightened, and a faint smile appeared. "I'm just worried there won't be enough for you."
Elissa quietly ate her spaghetti.
Soon, the hotel delivered the food she liked.
"I can't eat all this. Don't let it go to waste. You should have some too," she said.
Francis sat down next to her, also on the floor, without any fuss.
Hayden, who had just come back, shook his head at the sight.
Felix, satisfied with his sandwich, looked content.
"You're still eating?" Hayden was a bit exasperated.
Felix looked innocent. "I'm hungry."
Hayden was speechless.
The room was unusually harmonious.
As they finished eating, Francis spoke up. "Don't leave. Tomorrow night's party will be good for you. You should go."
Elissa thought of Finn. "Can my college friend come too?"
Francis's eyes darkened. "Trying to help his career?"
Elissa realized he had investigated her.
Things had been relatively peaceful, but now he was angry again.
"What's wrong with you? I'm not your girlfriend. What right do you have to investigate the men around me?"
Francis's eyes grew colder. "Is it wrong to eliminate potential threats?"
Elissa snapped, "I'm not yours. Whether I live or die has nothing to do with you!"
"How can you say that? If you die, I can't go on living either."
Elissa wanted to tell him to get lost.
Francis stood up, straightening his clothes. "You can't leave, so get some sleep. I'll take you to the party tomorrow."
Elissa pushed him out of the room.
At the door, Francis said, "Remember to apply the ointment yourself..."
The door slammed shut.
Hayden and Felix, standing nearby, were speechless.
Francis, unfazed, went to stay in the room across the hall.
Hayden commented, "You could be staying in the luxurious presidential suite, but you choose a regular room."
Felix, finishing his sandwich, sighed contentedly. "Delicious."
Elissa took a shower and called Finn before bed.
His phone was still off.
Despite her anger, she knew Francis wasn't crazy enough to harm anyone.
He probably just didn't want her to contact Finn tonight.
She decided to call him tomorrow.
But to her surprise, Finn called her first thing in the morning.
"Are you okay?"
They spoke at the same time and then laughed.
Finn was still confused. "Do you know what happened to me?"
"After I paid the bill, two big guys in black suits put me in a car, and I passed out. I woke up this morning on the floor with a stiff neck and a bit of a cold," he added.
Elissa cursed Francis in her mind.
Such a petty man. Couldn't he at least put him on a bed?
"A friend of mine has some issues. Sorry you had to go through that."
Finn sniffled. "It's okay. Is he your boyfriend?"
"Ex-boyfriend," Elissa didn't hide it. "Wait for me. I'll take you to the hospital, and then you can come to a party with me tonight."
"What kind of party?"
"It'll be good for you."
"Well, if I'm not sick, I need to prepare. You don't need to come. A cold is no big deal. Making money is more important."
"Just get some medicine. Don't mess up tonight."
"Got it. I never mess up important things. Are you okay?"
Elissa rubbed her head. Her situation with Francis was too complicated to explain. "I'm fine."
"Good."
As soon as she hung up, she heard the door unlock. A tall man walked in, his expression cold.
Elissa scoffed. "Mr. Peterson, you said this wasn't your territory and begged for my help. Now you're moving freely and entering other people's rooms?"
"I don't enter other people's rooms."
Meaning: Only yours.
Elissa didn't bother responding and turned over to get more sleep.
Francis noticed the unopened ointment by the bed.
"You didn't apply the ointment?" he asked.
Elissa ignored him until a cool hand reached under the covers and grabbed her leg.
She jumped up. "You..."
"I have issues."
He answered before she could finish, almost driving her crazy.
She glared at him.
Francis smiled. "Should I apply the ointment, or will you lie down and let me?"
"I want you to leave."
"Sorry, can't do that." With that, he reached for her.
Elissa quickly moved to the other side of the bed.
They circled the bed, moving back and forth.
Seeing her like this, Francis believed she was fine.
He tossed the ointment onto the coffee table. "Do you want to eat at the hotel restaurant, go out for some local food, or just have something simple here?"
Elissa was baffled.
Why was he acting like they hadn't broken up?
Treating her like his girlfriend?
"As long as it's not with you. Seeing you makes me nauseous."
"We used protection last night."
It took Elissa a moment to understand what he meant.
She threw a pillow at him.
"Go get your head checked. Even if we didn't use protection, I wouldn't show pregnancy symptoms today!"
Francis caught the pillow and tossed it aside.
Before Elissa could react, he swiftly moved over and hugged her.
He even stole a kiss!
Elissa stomped on his foot.
He didn't even flinch.
"If hitting me helps you vent, go ahead. Just leave me breathing so I can protect you if anyone tries to hurt you."
Elissa scoffed, "No one bullies me except you."
"Fair point," he admitted.
His gaze was intense. "I can't live without you."
Elissa sneered, "You can't live without me, so you bully me?"
"How can what happens in bed be considered bullying?"
She was beyond frustrated.
Elissa didn't want to discuss these intimate topics.
"Let go, I need to freshen up."
Francis released her, but she kicked him again out of spite.
Francis was in a surprisingly good mood.
Once she finished her makeup and changed clothes, they went out for breakfast.
As Francis described Seaside City, Elissa grew increasingly annoyed.
"You know so much about Seaside City. You must have planned this in advance. Last night, you were just pretending to be pitiful!"
Francis pulled her close. "If you hadn't helped me last night, whether it was an enemy or a friend, any woman they sent, even a clean one, would have complicated things."
"You could have gone to the hospital," Elissa gritted her teeth. "Since you have friends, they could have taken you there."
"If I went to the hospital, my enemies would know what's up. What if they attacked me?"
"Then you should just die."
Elissa pushed him away and stormed off.
She didn't see the car coming and was pulled back forcefully, held tightly in his arms.
Elissa tried to push him away, but he held her firmly.
She looked up to scold him but met his deep, intense gaze.
"Elissa, as long as you're alive, I won't let myself die because I need to protect you. But if you..." He paused for a few seconds. "Let's not talk about that. I proposed in front of Jesus. He will bless us."
Mentioning the proposal, Elissa waved her hand in front of his face. "How do I take off this ring?"
"It's affecting my chances with other guys."
Francis held her hand, his thumb rubbing the ring. "Don't even think about it. You'll be my woman forever."
He led her into a century-old restaurant.
Seaside City's traditional foods were all available here.
Elissa was hungry and immediately drawn to the aroma.
"I want a burrito and apple pie," she said.
Francis ordered the same.
They sat by the window, with a view of the river.
Francis poured her a cup of tea.
He took care of everything.
Elissa wasn't completely over him.
But because of the Peterson family, she was scared and didn't have the courage to take a gamble.
She didn't want Francis to have a good life only to break ties with his family and cause chaos.
Giving enemies a chance to hurt him would also make her heart ache.
She was ready to move on.
Who knew they'd meet in Seaside City and end up sleeping together?
Even if her feelings were conflicted, she was determined to break up.
She could foresee the consequences of staying entangled.
"You're frowning again, thinking about how we can't be together?"
Elissa took a sip of water. "I don't like you anymore. How could I want to be with you? Don't flatter yourself."
"Really? But last night..." Francis sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her, lowering his voice. "You seemed pretty into it."
Elissa choked on her water, and Francis immediately handed her a napkin.
After wiping her face, she glared at him. "Is that something you say in public?"
"I didn't announce it to everyone, I only said it to you," he replied, as if reading her thoughts. "Just between us."
Elissa pushed him away. "Go sit across from me."
"I thought you couldn't eat with me watching. Isn't it better if I sit beside you?"
Sitting next to her, with his constant touching, made eating even more difficult.
"Just go sit across from me."
Francis obediently moved to the opposite side and ladled some chicken soup into her bowl.
The breakfast was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Elissa wanted to escape Francis's company and planned to discuss the cultural festival with Finn, but Francis promptly ushered her into his car.
Unable to escape, she turned her back to him in silent protest. Francis didn't push her, quietly reviewing work schedules on his tablet.
In the front seats, Hayden and Felix exchanged knowing glances. When Felix took a turn without slowing down, Elissa tumbled into Francis's arms.
As soon as the car stabilized, she scrambled out of his embrace and snapped at Felix, "Like boss, like employee."
Felix and Hayden tensed, fearing they might be reassigned to some remote outpost like Simon. But Francis surprised everyone by agreeing, "You're right."
He was hopelessly in love. How could someone so intelligent lose himself so completely in romance?
Elissa found normal communication with Francis impossible. His responses left her feeling like she was punching a pillow—frustrating and ultimately pointless.
She watched the streets pass by until the buildings thinned out and they entered a less populated area.
"You're not planning to sell me off, are you?" she joked nervously.
"I could never part with you," he replied softly.
'I should've kept my mouth shut!' she thought to herself.
The moment the car stopped, she practically fled to escape the awkwardness.
Francis smiled, following her and naturally taking her hand as he led her into a courtyard where people wore traditional clothing.
Elissa gasped at the rock paintings on display. They were flawless from every angle, almost indistinguishable from reality. She imagined how stunning they would look on ElevateJoy dresses worn by celebrities on international red carpets.
"Would you like to try on the traditional clothes?" Francis whispered, leaning close to her ear.
Elissa's excitement dissolved her earlier irritation. "Is that possible?"
"Of course."
With a gesture from Francis, attendants led her away to change and style her hair. Looking in the mirror afterward, she felt transported to another era. The traditional ethnic costume was truly beautiful.
She quickly sent photos to Hope, who replied: [I should have come with you!]
Elissa texted: [Next time we'll come together. I'll be your guide.]
Hope: [Perfect.]
Grabbing her purse, she stepped out and immediately met Francis's intense gaze, filled with pure admiration rather than desire.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Francis walked around her, taking in the full effect. "Beautiful," he said simply.
Elissa hurried away, though the heavy costume slowed her escape. Francis easily caught up and said, "You can try rock painting too."
Elissa looked up at him suddenly.
Francis appeared pleasantly surprised by her interest. With a gentle laugh, he asked, "Have you fallen for me again?"
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