Chapter 413 You Have No Morals
Hope said, "Stay in Seaside City for now. I'll handle the company stuff. No need for you to come back."
Elissa knew exactly what Hope was doing—trying to keep her from returning.
After all, being with Willard was much safer than being in Maple Valley.
The Peterson and Wright families had their influence in Maple Valley. Now that Francis was going back to handle things, if she went too, it would only complicate matters.
But she felt that hiding like this wasn't a solution.
Was she supposed to always rely on Francis's protection?
Elissa said, "I want to face this with him."
Hope was a bit taken aback. "You are facing it with him. As long as you're safe, he can handle things without worrying about you."
Ollie's situation was different from other issues.
For Elissa, it was the deepest scar, etched into her very soul. Like an ulcer that refused to heal, the wound festered.
Even the slightest reminder sent waves of agony through her, reopening the wound with unbearable pain.
Elissa insisted, "If we've decided to get married, we should face things together."
Hope didn't want to interfere too much. "Don't make decisions on your own. Discuss it with Francis. He's probably on the plane now. Wait until he lands and talk to him."
Elissa chuckled. "I won't be that impulsive."
When someone was under stress, who knew what they might do.
Hope encouraged her gently, "Yes, you're very strong. I believe you can handle anything."
"After almost dying once, what is there to be afraid of?" Elissa suddenly felt a bit more at ease. "Alright, you go do your thing. Don't worry about me. I'm fine now, really."
"Okay, but you can always reach out to me. I'm here."
"Got it."
Elissa hung up the phone just as Anne finished eating.
Anne burped and asked, "Elissa, are you sure you don't want to eat something?"
Elissa shook her head and tilted her head playfully. "Tell me about you and Mr. Larson."
Anne's face scrunched up. "Elissa, can't we talk about something else?"
"But I'm curious. Besides, aren't you here to keep me company? Shouldn't we talk about what I'm interested in?"
Anne was indeed there to comfort Elissa, so her happiness was the priority.
"Alright. I'll use my misery to make you happy."
Elissa nodded. "I'm listening. Maybe I can even help you."
Anne perked up. As long as it could lead to a divorce from Willard, she was all in.
She said, "Then let me tell you everything."
Elissa invited her to the bed, and they lay down to talk.
Anne handed the dishes to the maid, quickly washed up, changed into pajamas, and joined Elissa under the covers.
"I married Willard to put my grandfather at ease..."
Anne's story was similar to what Madison had said.
The two had been set up by their families and hadn't seen each other for three years.
The first thing they did when they met was argue about divorce, but it never happened.
"He's like a crazy person!" Anne complained, "We haven't seen each other in three years. My grandfather is gone. There's no need to stay married, but suddenly he says he likes me and won't divorce!"
"Elissa, how could he like me? We haven't seen each other in three years, not even a message on Facebook. We're practically strangers except for that marriage certificate," she added.
Elissa smiled. "Didn't you live at Willard's house before you got married? Couldn't he have liked you before the wedding?"
Anne looked shocked. "Elissa, do you think that's reasonable? Who likes someone and acts so cold?"
Elissa thought of Francis and couldn't help but laugh.
She said, "When I first pursued Francis, he ignored me. Later, when I stopped pursuing him, he said he liked me and started clinging to me."
Anne rolled her eyes. "No wonder they're best friends. Birds of a feather. I can't imagine liking someone and not even calling or messaging them. What kind of love is that?"
Elissa thought that someone like Willard had been strictly trained from a young age.
His future was planned out, leaving little room for emotional expression.
Just like Francis.
They only panicked when they realized they might lose the person.
But she didn't agree with this behavior.
Especially since Anne was younger, and Willard was ten years older.
Their emotional differences were bound to be significant.
Anne wanted to feel passionate love.
Willard wouldn't express love so straightforwardly.
"Did you ever like him?" Elissa asked.
Anne's expression changed several times. She clutched the corner of the blanket, twisting it. "Well, when I was young and naive, I did... At that age, mature people are attractive."
Elissa understood. She had liked him.
But being neglected after marriage had cooled her feelings.
"I think you're right. He was indeed over the line."
Anne didn't like to mention Willard outside, fearing people would associate her with the Larson family.
It would make her efforts seem worthless.
People would think she achieved her success because of the Larson family.
She didn't have many friends, often alone except for her work.
She didn't have anyone to confide in.
"Finally, I found an ally," she said excitedly, gripping Elissa's hand. "Elissa, I wish I had met you sooner."
Elissa smiled. "I wanted to meet you sooner too. I love your filming style. But it's not too late. I'm happy to know you."
Anne hugged Elissa.
Elissa patted her back. "If you're tired, go to sleep."
Anne asked, "Can you help me with the divorce?"
Elissa knew she couldn't. Willard had too much power. If he didn't agree, no one could make it happen.
Besides, he was clearly trying to win Anne back.
And he had helped her.
She couldn't interfere, morally or logically.
But Anne looked at her hopefully, so she couldn't refuse outright.
Elissa finally said, "I'll ask Francis."
Anne relaxed. "Then tell me about you and Francis."
Elissa started from when she pursued Francis. By the time she got to when she gave up, Anne was asleep.
Elissa quietly got up, gathered her things, put on a black hat, and left.
Unexpectedly, she ran into Willard at the door.
"Have you contacted Francis?"
Elissa was about to answer when her phone rang.
It was a message from Francis.
Francis: [Landed, running late]
Elissa replied: [I'm heading back to Maple Valley]
Francis: [Hayden is there. Let him take you back]
Elissa: [Okay]
She showed the chat to Willard.
Willard didn't say anything.
Hayden came out and escorted Elissa to the car.
Willard watched the car drive away.
His sharp mind was momentarily confused.
Francis had even said "please" when he left.
So why did he agree to let Elissa return?
Especially knowing how dangerous Maple Valley was...
When Elissa landed in Maple Valley, it was already midnight.
The airport was nearly empty.
So she immediately saw Francis waiting at the exit.
She ran a few steps and jumped into his arms.
Francis stroked her hair, kissed the top of her head, and asked gently, "Are you hungry? Want to grab a bite?"
Elissa shook her head and looked up at him. "Aren't you curious why I came back to Maple Valley?"
Francis's eyes crinkled with a thin smile. "No need to ask. I already know."
Elissa smiled.
Francis took her bag, and Felix immediately took it from him.
He wrapped his arm around her and led her outside.
Elissa grinned, "Well, I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"
She gave him a sidelong glance.
Francis helped her into the car and held her hand, playing with her fingers.
He asked again, "Hungry?"
Elissa shook her head.
As the car started, she noticed they weren't heading towards the Peterson Villa.
"Aren't we going to the Peterson Villa?"
Francis's smile deepened. "In a hurry to get scolded?"
Elissa looked at him seriously. "I want to face this with you."
Francis held her gaze for a long moment.
Elissa continued, "I didn't have the courage before and ran away once. But we found our way back to each other. This time, I've promised not to leave you again, so I can't let you face this alone. If it's our future, we should face it together."
The happiness in Francis's eyes was unmistakable.
He pulled her into a tight embrace.
Elissa hugged him back.
Francis whispered in her ear, "It's too late now. Let's go home, get a good night's sleep, and be ready for tomorrow."
Elissa figured the Peterson family probably couldn't sleep.
Ollie's scandal was enough to drive a wedge between her and Francis.
But Francis had his reasons for doing things this way.
She didn't say anything more.
The Peterson family had been waiting for Francis to land.
But the feedback they got was that he hadn't left the airport after landing.
He waited until Elissa arrived.
But instead of going to the Peterson Villa, they went to Elissa's place.
Wesley and Elysia couldn't stay up all night, even if they wanted to wait for Francis.
Rainey and Jacob stayed awake.
They had been waiting in the living room but returned to their bedroom after Teddy's update.
"Something's off," Rainey said, frowning. "With Francis protecting Elissa like that, even using Willard to keep her safe, why would he let her come back to Maple Valley now?"
"And Elissa's father's scandal is a huge stain. I can't believe she doesn't understand that. With this stain, she can't marry Francis unless he quits his job."
Jacob, always calculating, couldn't figure out Francis's reasoning either.
He said, "The Wright family won't miss this chance. As long as Francis and Elissa are apart, it won't affect the Peterson family."
"But what if they stay together?" Rainey worried. "The Wright family sent that video as a threat. If it goes public, the Peterson family will be implicated. Public opinion is much stronger now than it used to be."
Jacob had thought of that too. They knew Francis well, but since he started dating Elissa, they couldn't read him anymore.
"We're in a passive position now. We can't do much. Let's wait for Francis to come back. When our parents are here, we can see what Francis means and why Elissa, who was scared before, isn't afraid now despite the scandal."
Rainey sighed. "The worst is if they don't care about anything."
"If that's the case, hurting Elissa will inevitably hurt Francis. And he's already the head of the Peterson family. Even Teddy can't control him now."
Jacob rubbed his forehead, showing signs of fatigue.
It wasn't just the late night or the waiting.
He regretted not being more decisive before Francis became too powerful.
He could have removed Elissa without making Francis desperate.
"We'll have to see what they mean."
When they got home, Elissa noticed the room had been cleaned.
She asked Francis, "Did you have someone clean up?"
Francis nodded and went to the kitchen to get her a glass of hot water.
Elissa took it and sipped slowly.
Francis took a quick shower, and when Elissa went to the bathroom, it was warm.
That night, they didn't do anything but sleep in each other's arms.
In the morning, they were woken by a phone call.
Elissa turned over to grab her phone.
A well-defined hand reached it first.
Francis answered, and Anne's voice came through, sounding hurt. "Elissa, how could you leave suddenly? Why didn't you tell me? Aren't we good friends?"
Francis suddenly asked, "Is there anything else?"
Anne quickly hung up.
She hoped she hadn't disturbed them...
"I told you, didn't I?" Willard, seeing her flustered, smiled. "If you trusted me, you wouldn't be so embarrassed."
Anne ignored him, grabbed her bag, and tried to leave.
Since she didn't need to stay with Elissa, there was no reason to stay.
Willard blocked the door.
Anne kicked him. "Get out of my way."
Willard looked at her with dark eyes.
Anne took a step back. "Willard, if you hit me, you'll regret it!"
Willard raised his hand, and Anne quickly crouched down, covering her head.
"Willard, you have no morals."
Willard just fixed her messy hair.
Then he patted her head. "Come eat."
Anne didn't want to eat, but she was forced to sit at the table.
"Not eating?" Willard pulled her and the chair closer, his voice deep. "I don't mind feeding you."
Anne tried to run but was held down.
"Looks like you want to be fed."
"No!"
Anne shook her head frantically and picked up a fork, resigned to eating.
Willard was satisfied, his expression relaxing.
Francis hung up the phone, ready to cuddle Elissa back to sleep.
But Elissa sat up. "Aren't we going to the Peterson Villa?"
Francis pulled her into his arms. "No rush."
Elissa didn't understand but knew she had to support him, stand by his side, and protect herself so she wouldn't be a burden.
But the Peterson family was anxious.
They had been waiting since early morning, frequently checking the time.
Rainey wanted to call several times but was stopped by Elysia.
Francis was no longer someone they could control.
In such a situation, they couldn't push him.
Francis and Elissa didn't arrive at the Peterson Villa until noon.
He even brought food.
As if nothing had happened, he sat at the dining table.
His voice was calm. "Let's eat first."
The Peterson family members gradually took their seats.
They were elders, but Francis was now the head of the Peterson family.
Elissa felt a bit uneasy, especially with so many eyes on her.
Francis peeled some shrimp for her and placed them on her plate.
Rainey couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first. "What are you going to do about Ollie?"
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