Chapter 425 Drawing Boundaries
Hope smiled, "Well, I won't try to change your mind."
Elissa was about to say something when her phone rang.
She quickly took it out, but it wasn't Francis.
She answered, sounding drained, "Yeah, what is it?"
Finn was taken aback, "Hey, just wanted to say, don't stress too much. Take care of yourself and don't overdo it."
Elissa playfully scolded him, "Do you have something important to say or not?"
"Yeah, actually, I do."
"Spill it."
Finn chuckled, "The clothes you ordered are ready. How about coming over to check them out?"
"But only two sets are done, and time is tight. It won't delay the next event, though. I've checked the schedule," he added.
Elissa immediately sat up straight, her voice full of energy, "I'll be right over."
Then she suddenly remembered something. "No, I can't. I have something to do. How about Hope goes instead? She can take a look. It's just two sets, and she's a designer too. She can give feedback."
Finn didn't mind. It didn't matter who came.
He replied, "Tell me the flight details, and I'll pick up Mrs. Hammer."
"No need. We'll meet at the factory."
Finn slapped his forehead, "Of course, Mrs. Hope Hammer's travel arrangements must be handled by Mr. Jerry Hammer."
"Alright, you take it easy. I'm busy now."
After hanging up, Elissa winked at Hope. "You know why I'm not going, right?"
Hope nodded seriously, "I get it."
Elissa hugged her, "I knew you'd understand."
Hope didn't mind going. It was just a two or three-day trip.
But Elissa thought if she left and Francis came out, he might think she was avoiding him again.
That evening, Elissa stayed at Tranquil Haven for dinner.
Hope told Jerry about the trip to Seaside City and casually asked about Francis.
Jerry responded grumpily, "You've only been home a few days, and now you're itching to leave. Are you tired of me already?"
Hope slapped his shoulder, "Don't be ridiculous."
Jerry insisted, "Then why don't you want to stay home?"
Hope was exasperated. "Think whatever you want."
Jerry held her hand, "You make me sound like the bad guy."
Elissa, sitting across from them, had been holding back her words.
She waited for them to finish their lovey-dovey moment.
Seeing they were ignoring her, she had to speak up, "Mr. Hammer, when will Francis be back?"
Jerry's eyes were still on Hope. He answered Elissa's question absentmindedly, "A day, two days, maybe three."
Elissa didn't ask further.
Jerry's attitude assured her that Francis was fine.
He'd probably be back in two days at most.
"I won't bother you two anymore." She finished her chicken leg and waved at Hope. "I'm off."
Hope pulled her hand from Jerry's grip and walked Elissa to the door, even packing some desserts for her.
Hope asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"
Elissa replied, "You've been comforting me all afternoon. What could be wrong?"
Elissa put on her shoes and hugged her again, "Besides, I was just anxious at the moment. Now that I think about it, Francis is so capable. How could anything happen to him? I was just worrying for nothing."
Hope said, "If you ever feel bad, call me."
Elissa nodded, "Don't worry. I'm strong."
Watching Elissa leave, Hope closed the door and turned around, bumping into Jerry.
She looked up and asked, "Is Francis really okay?"
Jerry hugged her and led her inside, "He's fine. Everything's under control."
Elissa returned home, relieved that Francis was okay, but she still couldn't sleep.
Early the next morning, she went to the mall.
On the way, she replied to Hope's message about boarding the plane.
"Hayden, does Francis have any preferences?"
She wanted to buy Francis a new outfit.
Since they got together, he had always taken care of her.
It seemed she hadn't given him much.
This investigation wasn't a good thing, but she hoped he could wear something new when he got out and wouldn't get involved in such troubles because of her again.
But the more she looked, the more indecisive she became.
Hayden shook his head, "Not really. But if you like it or you buy it, Mr. Peterson will be happy."
Elissa withdrew her gaze from a display and was about to speak when she bumped into someone.
She gasped and quickly supported the woman she had collided with, "Are you okay?"
As she spoke, she noticed the woman's prominent belly and immediately said, "I'll take you to the hospital."
"No need." The woman grabbed her and smiled, "I wasn't looking where I was going. It's not your fault."
Elissa was more nervous than her, "Let's go to the hospital just to be safe. Don't worry, I'll cover all the expenses. I was a bit distracted."
"Really, it's fine." The woman touched her belly, "I'm eight months along. It's very stable. This little bump won't do anything. I'm in good health."
Elissa was at a loss.
She insisted, "Let's go to the hospital anyway..."
"If you feel bad about it, just accompany me to the restroom. It's a bit inconvenient for me."
Without thinking, Elissa agreed and helped her to the restroom, which was right there.
Hayden tried to stop her, "You shouldn't go. I'll call someone."
Elissa thought Hayden was being overly cautious. "It's fine. You're right outside."
Hayden wanted to say more, but Elissa had already gone in with the woman.
Hayden looked around the floor and instructed people to block all exits.
But he waited and waited, and Elissa didn't come out.
He rushed in.
"You pervert! This is the women's restroom!" someone screamed.
It was lunchtime, and the restroom was crowded.
Not only did he fail to find Elissa, but security was called to deal with him.
They accused him of being a creep trying to enter the women's restroom.
This was the Peterson family's territory, so the security guards recognized Hayden.
Hayden instructed, "Clear the area immediately. If anything happens to Mrs. Peterson, you won't be able to bear the responsibility!"
The security guards quickly moved everyone to another restroom.
Some women were unhappy and called the police.
But before the police arrived, Hayden had already entered the restroom.
There was no sign of Elissa or the pregnant woman.
In the last stall, he found a discarded fake belly.
Hayden cursed, "Damn it!"
He glanced at the small window above the restroom and thought he heard the sound of a helicopter.
He headed straight for the rooftop.
The helicopter was already far away.
Hayden quickly said, "Everyone, head to the northern helipad. Send some people to the docks."
Just then, the police arrived. He immediately said, "Mrs. Peterson has been kidnapped."
Francis and Elissa's situation wasn't a secret.
The police gasped and quickly cooperated in the search and capture.
At that moment, Hayden's phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, he held his breath.
"Where are you?" Francis's usual cold voice came through, "Why isn't Elissa answering her phone?"
Hayden didn't dare hide anything and told him the truth.
The call was abruptly cut off, and each beep felt like a hammer striking his heart. By the time Hayden reached the northern helipad, Francis was already there.
He was still wearing the same clothes he had on when he was taken in for questioning, but now they were wrinkled and disheveled.
It was clear he had just gotten home, found Elissa missing, and rushed over after hearing Hayden's report.
But there were no signs of a helicopter landing nearby.
"Didn't you say it was heading north?"
Hayden's lips trembled, "The helicopter was flying north..."
"Couldn't they have changed direction mid-flight?" Francis's voice was icy cold, sharper than a winter wind, cutting to the bone.
"I've sent people to other helipads too... It's raining today. They were in a hurry to leave. Changing course suddenly would be dangerous."
Francis checked his phone again. There were still no calls.
Elissa didn't have any enemies who would go to such lengths to kidnap her, except to threaten him.
But the lack of any contact was making him increasingly anxious.
Hayden bowed deeply, "Mr. Peterson, please punish me."
Francis's eyes were as cold as frost, "Punishing you won't bring her back."
"It's my fault..."
Francis didn't want to hear it and had no patience for it.
He called Jerry.
Jerry had taken Hope to Seaside City.
No wonder they chose this time to act.
He wasn't around, and neither was Jerry.
The chances of taking Elissa were much higher.
Arthur approached, "Mr. Peterson, Mrs. Rainey Peterson was involved too."
Francis's expression darkened, his entire demeanor as cold as the dead of winter, as if touching him would freeze you solid.
He ordered, "Keep an eye on all the helipads, highways, docks, and stations."
"Yes, sir."
Francis drove himself to the Peterson Villa.
Just as he opened the car door, Hayden ran over and said, "She's at the hospital."
On the way, Hayden explained how Elysia had been looking for Elissa and relayed everything Elissa had said.
But it didn't help much.
Francis was too worried about Elissa to be pleased by any of it.
Hayden finished speaking and fell silent.
At the VIP ward on the top floor of the hospital, Francis ran into Rainey as she was coming out.
Rainey was visibly upset, grabbing his wrist with red eyes. "How did it come to this? I told you Elissa was bad luck. Look at what she's done to you..."
Francis grabbed her by the throat.
He didn't use much force, but Rainey was shocked. "What are you doing! I can't even say a word about her now, and you're going to strangle me!"
Francis's voice was cold, each word wrapped in ice. "Where is Elissa?"
Rainey pushed his hand away, "Are you crazy! How would I know where she is? And just because you can't find her, you think you can lay hands on me?"
Francis was so anxious his hands were shaking uncontrollably.
He had grabbed Rainey's throat, but he couldn't muster any strength.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to push him away so easily.
"Mom, you better tell me, or I don't know what I'll do."
Rainey was a bit scared.
She had never seen this side of Francis before.
Thinking back, it made sense. Extreme pressure could lead to psychological issues.
They had overlooked it for too long.
But she never thought it would get this bad.
She was his mother, yet she meant less to him than an outsider who couldn't help him at all.
"I told you, I don't know. Maybe she realized she wasn't good enough for you and left."
Francis might have believed that before, but Elissa had said she wouldn't leave.
Besides, Hayden had already told him she was kidnapped.
Francis suddenly bowed to Rainey at a 90-degree angle.
Rainey was stunned.
The Peterson family members in the ward, who had come to see what was happening, were also shocked.
His head was bowed very low, and his voice was deep. "I'll always be grateful for the gift of life you've given me and for how the Petersons raised me. I was out of line just now. I apologize, Mom."
"You and Dad aren't getting any younger. All this stress isn't good for your health. Maybe it's time to think about taking it easy somewhere comfortable."
Realizing what Francis was about to do, Elysia quickly said, "Don't be rash. We didn't do anything to Elissa. We've said before, she has no background. With your many enemies, it's expected something would happen. It has nothing to do with us."
Francis sneered, "I am now in charge of the Peterson family. I have the right to decide its future."
Jacob immediately kicked him, "You ungrateful brat!"
Rainey, feeling sorry for him, pushed Jacob away and quickly helped Francis up.
Seeing the blood at the corner of his mouth, she glared at Jacob.
Jacob snapped, "This is all your fault!"
Rainey was furious, "So what if I spoiled him! He's my only son! If you hadn't been so strict, he wouldn't be like this! We sensed something was wrong back then, but you still made him tough it out. If you'd let him see a psychologist, it wouldn't have come to this! "
Jacob was also angry, "He wasn't sick! And if he is, it's because of that woman, not me!"
Elysia chimed in weakly, "Stop arguing."
Elysia, already feeling unwell, was now dizzy and nearly fainted.
Francis pushed Rainey's hand away and bowed his head again.
Then he stood up and said nothing more.
He had said everything many times before.
No one listened.
There was no point in wasting words.
"Francis!" Rainey tried to follow him but was stopped by Teddy.
Rainey glared at him. "You're betraying us too?"
Teddy's fake smile remained, "Mrs. Peterson, I now follow the orders of the head of the Peterson family."
Rainey fainted from anger.
Elysia's ward was large enough to accommodate her.
Jacob couldn't stay there all the time and left for a meeting.
But he didn't know it would be his last meeting.
Wesley, also feeling unwell, rested in a nearby ward.
When Rainey woke up, Elysia's first question was, "Did you have a hand in Elissa's kidnapping?"
Rainey was still a bit disoriented, "Mom, what are you talking about?"
Elysia saw the evasive look in her eyes and knew the answer.
In a weak voice, Elysia exclaimed, "You fool!"
Rainey weakly defended herself, "I did it for Francis, for the Peterson family."
"But you shouldn't have interfered!" Elysia took a deep breath to avoid fainting. "Aiden is no longer in the country. Francis pushed him to the brink. He won't let it go. And there's Jessa. You could have reaped the benefits without lifting a finger. Now look, Francis has gone mad. His bowing clearly means he's cutting ties with us!"
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