Chapter 466 I Won't Fall in Love with Him
"I..."
Elissa suppressed the urge to curse. She said nothing in the end, knowing whatever came out wouldn't be pleasant. She had to think about prenatal care.
Anne noticed Elissa's displeasure and dropped the subject. Francis had expected this reaction and pulled her close, coaxing gently, "So I won't help him. What he did was wrong. Am I being good?"
Elissa said quietly, "When I was ignoring you, didn't you also force your way back into my life?"
"That's different," Francis nuzzled against her neck. "I knew you had feelings for me."
Elissa pushed him away. "Get off, I can barely breathe."
Francis loosened his grip slightly but kept holding her. "Don't be upset. What would you like to eat? I'll get it for you."
"Nothing." Elissa had no appetite and wouldn't let other people's drama affect her relationship with Francis, but she felt suffocated.
"Elissa, have some candy," Anne reached back from the front seat. "You told me sweets improve your mood."
Elissa took it with a smile. Anne didn't know how else to comfort her and scratched her head awkwardly.
"I shouldn't have told you. You're in a delicate condition—I heard if mothers are unhappy, their babies come out ugly."
Elissa and Hope had discussed this when she first got pregnant. She took a deep breath, trying to relax, but couldn't help venting, "So I won't help him. What he did was wrong. Am I being good?"
Francis didn't dare mention that Yves and Coralie's situation wasn't exactly forced, unlike Louis and Isla's. Better to agree with her now.
"That's why I never became close friends with them."
Looking at Anne, Elissa remembered Willard's actions. "Birds of a feather, indeed."
Francis thought, 'Thank God she's not talking about me.' But then she continued, "You men in power are just so gross."
Well, there it was. Let her vent—as long as she wasn't bottling it up, he could handle being scolded.
Francis offered her fruit. "Have some."
Elissa shared it with Anne, still shaken by recent events. She spoke earnestly, "Even if Willard would die for you, you must never fall for him again."
Anne immediately agreed. "Don't worry, I won't."
At the airport, Thora was waiting. Anne introduced her to Elissa, who shared her snacks. "Thank you for standing by Anne."
Thora was flattered. "Please don't say that. I admire Ms. Waverly and want to follow her. I haven't done much, and that night I couldn't even stop—"
Anne covered her mouth. "Just eat."
Thora, reading the room, stuffed food in her mouth. Francis, unable to join their conversation, handled business on his phone.
Simon reported Willard's latest condition—Rufus had changed treatment methods and they were taking walks outside.
Simon: [Mr. Peterson, is this Rufus really that skilled?]
Simon couldn't understand the treatment approach. As an observer, he felt the core problem remained unsolved, making any treatment futile.
Francis replied: [Do your job]
Simon: [Yes, Mr. Peterson]
Francis pocketed his phone and glanced at Elissa. He knew perfectly well that Willard's treatment would make no progress—the fundamental issue was Anne's lack of love for him. There was only one cure for that.
Sending him abroad was merely Francis giving Elissa closure, plus Willard's own self-imposed exile after recognizing he'd crossed a line with Anne.
After landing, Hope picked them up. Thora fit in quickly, and the four women immediately made dinner plans. Jerry walked behind with Francis, his steps leisurely.
"Louis asked for your help?"
"Did he ask you too?" Francis countered.
"My wife made clothes for Mrs. Martin, who loved them. She's extremely close to Emma Kate—Emma practically worships her, agreeing with everything she says and does. When Louis couldn't get to you, he thought I might help."
Francis said flatly, "I'd advise against getting involved."
"How so?"
Francis briefly explained what happened before their flight. "I guarantee Hope will know everything soon. If you interfere, she'll be furious."
Jerry hadn't planned to get involved anyway. He clasped his hands behind his head, utterly relaxed.
"But Louis might lose it completely."
Francis had considered this possibility and was taking precautions.
The group arrived at Velvet Gourmet. The four women sat together, seemingly with endless conversation, while Francis and Jerry tactfully took the opposite table to discuss business.
"If Uma truly takes over the Larson family, she'll inevitably deal with Ryan."
Jerry's lips curved mischievously. "I recall Willard privately partnered with Ryan, though he kept it quiet out of consideration for Uma."
Francis sipped his tea. "That project was confidential anyway—hardly a significant connection. Future dealings depend entirely on personal choice."
Jerry chuckled. "You didn't help, and you stopped me from helping. To solidify her position and develop the Larson family successfully, she'll need to network extensively."
Francis's thumb traced his coffee cup rim as his gaze drifted to Elissa, his expression immediately softening. But Elissa shot him a resentful look.
He smiled helplessly. Jerry received similar treatment and sighed, "Good thing we didn't choose our friends poorly, or it wouldn't be just dirty looks."
Francis returned to their topic. "Uma has no pressing need to work with Ryan, so as I said—it's entirely personal choice."
The women had warmed up to each other. Thora finally dared to gush: "Elissa, Hope, you're so lucky! Your husbands are handsome, wealthy, and adore you. I'm so envious."
Anne laughed in agreement. "Me too."
Hope asked, "Have you ever been in a relationship?"
"No, I'm always single. But I've got a bunch of really cute guys—well, in my game, anyway." Thora opened her phone game. "Four different personalities. It's wonderful, though you probably aren't interested since you already have the real thing."
Elissa wagged her finger. "We only have one personality each. You get four."
"No, no, mine are just for eye candy. You can actually—"
Anne covered her mouth. "Watch your words. Those two have excellent hearing."
Though she whispered, paranoia made everything seem suspicious. As she finished speaking, two gazes fell on them.
"Ignore them. Let's talk among ourselves." Elissa asked Thora, "How do you play this? I want to try it too. They say looking at handsome men makes babies beautiful—my son needs to be gorgeous enough for Hope's daughter."
Thora loved sharing this joy but felt Anne's warning poke. Anne knew Francis and Jerry's temperaments—they wouldn't tolerate their wives looking at any men, even fictional ones.
Thora was her assistant; she had to protect her.
"Play by yourself. Elissa doesn't need it. Francis is so handsome and Elissa so beautiful—their baby will be prettier than any game character."
Anne's frantic hinting made her blink desperately. She performed dramatically. "My eyes feel so uncomfortable today."
Elissa and Hope exchanged glances and laughed. "Anne is adorable," Elissa told Hope, who nodded. "Yes, and I really like Thora too."
Thora understood the hints, so she quickly put away her phone. "Honestly, this game isn't even that fun—just a bunch of virtual guys who don't hold a candle to your husbands. I've never seen anyone in real life as good-looking as they are."
She winked at Anne, as if to say, "Did I save myself?"
Anne winked back, playing along, as if to say, "You're safe."
Watching their exchange, Elissa and Hope laughed again. "Youth is wonderful," Elissa sighed, and Hope agreed. "Indeed."
Elissa began reminiscing. "Back in my day, I was also—"
"What's so amusing?" Francis appeared behind Elissa, setting down deboned fish and peeled shrimp, plus her favorite dishes.
"Discussing handsome men?"
"No, no!" Thora jumped up frantically. "Just a game I play—no real men, all virtual!"
Francis sat down smoothly, gazing at Elissa with a gentle smile. "Darling, too much phone time means radiation—bad for you and the baby."
Elissa knew him well. He'd be jealous if she glanced at a male mosquito.
"Sit across from us. Why make Thora stand?"
Thora quickly moved beside Anne. "I'm fine here."
Jerry also moved over, silently preparing Hope's crab. Hope glanced at him and urged Thora to eat.
"Anne, take care of your friend."
"Of course, Hope. Please don't mind us."
Anne felt endangered too—after all, she'd brought Thora.
The men ate quietly afterward, saying nothing and avoiding eye contact with the game discussion.
When Elissa tried to speak, Francis fed her something. She was quickly full.
"Darling, the doctor said you shouldn't sit too long in later pregnancy. Let me walk with you."
Without giving her a chance to respond, he pulled her up and carried her out, preventing any resistance. She found herself in the car.
"What are you doing?"
Elissa tried to get out but he held her from behind, instructing the driver to go home.
"You're jealous of game characters too? I didn't even download that game."
She hadn't even seen what it was.
Francis rested his chin on her shoulder, nuzzling her neck. His magnetic voice carried hurt, "You've been cold and angry with me lately. Combined with wanting to look at other men and reminiscing about the past, you must be tired of me."
"Am I standing in the way of your happiness? Am I not good enough to you that you're seeking other men?"
Elissa laughed despite her exasperation. "You should get your head examined."
Francis hummed agreement. "Yes, a brain scan would probably show it's full of your name."
Elissa laughed and kissed his lips lightly. Francis deepened the kiss immediately.
The driver discretely raised the partition as the temperature in the back seat began rising. Elissa's hand traced from his neck downward, pausing at his abs.
Following her movement, Francis held her tighter, burying his face in her neck with a muffled groan.
"Your seduction technique is quite effective, Francis."
Francis's voice was husky, "I'll change clothes for you at home."
Thora watched Francis hurriedly carry Elissa away and whispered to Anne, "They're going home to... make love, right?"
Though inexperienced, Anne understood enough, especially knowing Francis's personality. With Elissa's condition stable and after all that talk about men and reminiscing, they were definitely going home for sex.
Before she could answer, she heard a small gasp. Turning, she watched Jerry hoist Hope over his shoulder.
Unlike Francis's buildup, Jerry cut straight to the chase. He drove himself, speeding home, and in the garage, pressed Hope against the car seat without preamble.
When Hope asked to go to the bedroom, he intensified his movements, making her cry out.
His husky voice accused her, "Want to find other men, do you? Complaining about my age again? Think I'm too old to satisfy you? Tell me how good this feels—"
Hope covered his mouth. "Watch your language."
"It's just us here. What should I watch?"
Hope didn't want to hear such words, but his physical persuasion left her powerless to stop him. He whispered everything in her ear, making her blush furiously.
At Velvet Gourmet, Anne and Thora stared at each other. Finally, Thora managed, "I heard Velvet Gourmet is expensive. Did they pay the bill?"
Anne, who could afford the restaurant, rubbed her forehead with a wry smile. "We need to be more careful in the future."
Thora raised her hand solemnly. "I'll never make the same mistake again."
Anne went to pay but learned it was charged to Francis's account. She took Thora to their hotel to rest before finding workspace for their studio.
Unexpectedly, they received a job offer—an international assignment.
"Ms. Ortiz recommended us," Thora said, showing Anne the email after she finished her call.
Anne nodded, texted Elissa, and flew abroad with Thora.
Meanwhile, in a small Emberlyn courtyard, a man sitting in the sunlight received a message:
[Mr. Willard Larson, Mrs. Anne Larson will arrive in your vicinity tomorrow evening]
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