Chapter 468 Pretending
"I need to tell you something honestly, but please don't get upset."
As soon as Elissa heard this, she understood what was coming.
She posed a hypothetical: "If he's diagnosed with a mental illness, could he be declared legally incompetent?"
Francis peeled shrimp for her, his tone diplomatic. "Could we perhaps let them handle this themselves?"
Elissa refused the shrimp he offered. "What Willard did was criminal. Are you suggesting I stand by and let Anne get hurt while she deals with a criminal on her own?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"You're still taking Willard's side. Of course—she's not your sister, so why would you care?"
Francis was truly in a no-win situation now.
He'd never planned to get involved in Willard's affairs. Who could have predicted that Anne would turn out to be Elissa's sister, or that he'd end up marrying Elissa?
Elissa pressed on, "We promised to be honest with each other."
Francis sighed. "Let me be frank—Willard will never give up on Anne. I can intervene to keep them apart, but I can't watch him around the clock. Willard is an adult with considerable power. Even if I could have him committed, he'd find a way out. As for pressing criminal charges, even if he went to prison, it wouldn't be forever. When he got out, he'd still pursue Anne. You can't keep waiting for him to commit crimes just to send him back to jail. The Larson family would never allow such a stain on their reputation. Neither commitment nor imprisonment is viable."
The Larson family was a century-old dynasty. A confrontation with them would only result in mutual destruction.
Francis was fundamentally pragmatic. Now that he had a wife and child, he preferred not to be so ruthless.
"What Willard did was wrong, but he wouldn't actually harm Anne."
Elissa cut him off coldly. "Does Anne have to be dead or injured before it counts as real harm? Do you think it would be too late by then?"
Sensing her anger, Francis tried to change the subject. "Finish your dinner first. Afterward, I'll go to Seaside City and speak with Willard's parents."
"I'll go myself," Elissa declared.
When Anne finished her shoot, Willard was nowhere to be seen. She did spot Simon, presumably there on Elissa's orders.
What she hadn't expected was finding Willard in her hotel room when she returned.
She'd booked a double room with Thora, but Thora had stayed behind for a chance to spend more time near Efren. The crew had worked with Madison before, so there was no safety concern. Anne had returned alone to select photos.
"Get out of my room."
This wasn't Seaside City. Even with Willard's influence, he couldn't control everything here.
"You have two seconds to leave, or I'm calling the police."
She was done retreating and running away every time. They were divorced—breaking into her room without permission gave her every right to have him removed. If he insisted on staying, she'd let the police handle it. Foreign police wouldn't care about the Larson family's influence.
Willard left without a word, without touching her, without explanation. She couldn't fathom why he'd appeared so brazenly.
But she didn't want to dwell on it. She opened her laptop and got to work.
Thora returned after midnight, reeking of alcohol, with Isaiah escorting her.
"Sorry, Ms. Waverly. There was a celebration tonight, and Thora had a couple of drinks." He emphasized, "Just a couple to join the fun—no one forced alcohol on her, and she didn't get sick."
Anne took Thora from him and thanked Isaiah.
"No need to thank me—it's my responsibility. When Thora comes out with us, we have to ensure her safety. Please get some rest."
Anne nodded, thanked him again, and closed the door.
She asked Thora, "Can you manage your evening routine?"
"Yes, I can." Thora walked into the bathroom. "Ms. Waverly, I'm not drunk—I'm perfectly clear-headed."
"You need to protect yourself when you're out. Avoid drinking if you can."
"I was just excited to meet Efren. I rarely drink normally."
"I understand."
After finishing her work and getting ready for bed, Anne lay down and checked her phone, discovering a new message: [See you tomorrow]
Anne had a feeling this unknown number belonged to Willard. No one else would be so presumptuous. All work communications now went through Thora. She wasn't so conceited as to think someone from today's encounters had fallen for her at first sight and was sending such intimate messages.
Even after blocking all his contact methods, he still found ways to reach her. But she blocked this number anyway.
Willard didn't mind the lack of response.
Rufus, taking notes nearby, was excited to see him smile.
"I've seen plenty of cases where patients were trapped by emotions, but Mr. Larson's situation is unprecedented. The depth of Mrs. Larson's influence on him is remarkable. The fact that she enables him to control his emotions so effectively is absolutely astounding."
Simon, listening from the side, sneered inwardly. Willard did have psychological issues that had gone untreated, but after observing him these past days, Simon had reached a conclusion: Willard's condition might not be as severe as it appeared. It was likely just another manipulation tactic to keep Anne close.
He reported his suspicions honestly to Francis, who received the message upon landing in Seaside City.
It was dinnertime, and Francis asked Elissa what she wanted to eat. She simply said they were going to the Larson Villa.
Coincidentally, Uma was at the villa that evening, dining with Willard's parents.
When the butler brought Elissa and Francis in, Uma immediately approached, helping Elissa to a seat and instructing the staff to bring additional place settings.
Uma said, "Your pregnancy barely shows yet. Eat more—this isn't the time to worry about your figure."
Elissa smiled slightly. She had no quarrel with Uma and saw no reason to be cold toward her because of Willard.
"You can't overindulge either," Nia interjected, looking at Elissa with gentle, maternal affection. "It makes delivery more difficult."
Uma, having never been pregnant, wasn't particularly interested in the topic. When she wanted a child, she'd find a way—no need for advice or shared experiences.
More importantly, she could sense Elissa's mood. Coming to Seaside City while pregnant, arriving at the Larson Villa at dinnertime—this wasn't a social visit.
Uma suddenly asked, "Is this about Willard and Anne?"
"I assume a distinguished family like the Larsons, filled with exceptional individuals, is aware of what happened recently."
Neither Kieran nor Nia seemed surprised by Elissa's directness. They already knew she was Anne's sister, though they hadn't yet discovered who their parents were.
Under these circumstances, she had every right as Anne's sister to demand answers.
Willard's kidnapping was undeniably wrong.
"I won't defend Willard—wrong is wrong. I watched Anne grow up; she's like my own daughter. When she suffers, I suffer too." Nia sighed. "But we've tried reasoning with him. He's an adult—we can't lock him up at home. He has many responsibilities for the Larson family business."
Despite her words, as his mother, her sympathies were clearly divided.
Elissa didn't waste time arguing the point.
"If you as his parents can't control Willard and allow him to harm other people's children, I don't mind sending him to prison. When it hits the headlines, don't blame me for not preserving the Larson family's reputation."
All three Larsons looked toward Francis, who was peeling an orange, carefully removing every bit of white pith before offering it to Elissa.
For a moment, they felt as if Francis himself had spoken those words. The couple was indeed becoming more alike.
Nia continued, "Matters of the heart aren't mathematical equations with standard answers. When I arranged their engagement, I could see that Anne cared for Qinghuai. Young people are naturally impulsive, and shouldn't they bear the consequences of their impulsiveness?"
Elissa caught Nia's implication: Anne had loved Willard first, making her partially responsible for everything that followed.
No wonder Willard could behave as he did. Expecting such an established family to admit fault was nearly impossible.
If that was their position, she saw no need to preserve their dignity.
"Since we can't reach an understanding, let's leave it at that."
Elissa ignored the orange, unwilling to accept anything from the Larsons. She stood and smoothed her clothes, her voice cold and distant, "I remember everything Willard has done. If he continues down this path, I'll make him pay the price."
Elissa had limited power. Francis wouldn't jeopardize his long-standing relationship with the Larsons over Anne's situation. She was fighting a losing battle.
But no matter how hopeless it seemed, even if it broke her completely, she had to secure Anne's peace.But no matter how hopeless it seemed, even if it broke her completely, she had to secure Anne’s peace.
Francis caught her arm and lifted her into his arms. She'd been walking too quickly, clearly agitated.
Gently placing her in the car, he stroked her head soothingly. "I'll handle this."
Elissa remained silent.
Francis understood her well. Silence meant she had her own plans and would act independently, likely avoiding him entirely—because she didn't trust him.
After all, his earlier words had made clear his reluctance to get involved in Anne and Willard's affairs.
He sighed softly, feeling helpless and frustrated.
Before he could speak, Uma emerged from the villa.
"Elissa."
Elissa pushed Francis away, and he stepped aside with obvious irritation, wanting a cigarette to calm his nerves but settling for a mint instead.
As Elissa moved to exit the car, Uma stopped her. "Don't get out—I'll come in."
Elissa made room, and Uma got straight to the point.
"Elissa, I've always valued our friendship since we met and I hope we can stay good friends. I won't defend Willard—what he tried to do to Anne was inexcusable.
But honestly, we really can't control what he chooses to do. You may think I'm the head of the Larson family, but the real power is with Willard.
You're pregnant now, so please focus on your health. Let's wait until after the baby is born to deal with this. In the meantime, I promise Anne will be safe. Does that sound alright?"
Elissa responded better to kindness than force—everyone seemed to know that.
However, Uma's words revealed something crucial.
Elissa glanced toward Francis, then after several seconds of silence, asked, "Uma, do you truly consider me a friend?"
"Of course."
"Then let me ask you—Willard isn't really ill, is he?"
After a brief pause, Elissa had her answer.
Francis had also heard the question, and their eyes met—hers calm but harboring a storm.
She told Uma, "I'm tired. Let's continue this conversation another time."
Uma started to speak, but Elissa interrupted, "Francis, I'm tired."
Francis asked Uma to leave, immediately got in the car, and instructed the driver to head to their hotel.
Uma watched the departing vehicle thoughtfully.
Nia emerged asking, "What did she say?"
Uma recalled a time when Willard was eighteen and her parents had come looking for her, hoping to sell her to the highest bidder. Though Willard could already handle responsibilities independently, he wasn't yet the family head.
Even knowing Willard would eventually lead the family, her parents couldn't resist the lure of immediate profit. Since their relationship with Willard was poor anyway, they sought other opportunities.
Willard had ignored all protocol and physically kicked both her parents, declaring that she was his sister and that her marriage—indeed, everything about her life—was his decision alone.
When her parents caused a scene, Willard used his influence to subdue them.
She thought, ''What is wrong with Elissa simply wanting to protect Anne?'
Then he turned to Nia. "We should talk to Willard."
Back at the hotel, Elissa immediately went to bed, wrapping herself tightly in the covers.
Francis worried she couldn't breathe and tried to loosen the blankets, but she wouldn't let him. He didn't dare use force, only coaxed her gently.
But Elissa pushed him away. "I want to be alone."
Francis hadn't expected that despite all their challenges as a couple, they'd face this kind of obstacle.
He took the opportunity to call Willard.
At that moment, Willard was approaching Anne as she exited her hotel.
He didn't answer the phone.
"Going to shoot?"
He acted as if nothing had happened between them.
"Willard, what's the point of this?" Anne was furious. "This isn't Seaside City."
Willard looked genuinely confused. "Anne, what are you talking about? What did I do to make you so angry? Did I forget to bring your favorite pastries? Sorry, they don't sell them here. I'll make it up to you when we're back home."
Anne frowned, staring hard at Willard.
"Why are you looking at me like I've committed some unforgivable crime?"
Anne no longer believed Willard—she was convinced he was acting. After all, he was manipulative by nature.
Just as she was about to respond, her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she answered immediately.
Before she could say the name, she heard a stern voice: "Anne, Willard is faking his mental health issue. Come home right now."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
