Chapter 391

The question felt so utterly out of place between them that she instinctively took a half-step back, creating distance. Then, composing herself, she answered as calmly as she could, "No..."

"Elissa," Frank said, seeing the crack in her facade. His gaze dropped to her still- flat stomach, his hands clenching at his sides, his throat tight. "Don't be afraid. I'll... I'll go with you to the hospital."

"Why would I go to the hospital?" Deciding there was no point in denying it further, Elissa's tone became matter-of-fact. "I'm a doctor myself. I don't need to go to a hospital right now." She planned on waiting until it was time to set up her prenatal file.

Frank's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're going to keep it?" His worst-case scenario had been accompanying her to an abortion clinic. He had never imagined she would want to have Rowan's child. Then that meant she and Rowan...

Elissa nodded, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Yes. But... you won't tell Rowan, will you?"

Frank let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Of course not." So, she wasn't getting back together with Rowan because of the baby. He paused, his expression softening. "While I don't think keeping this child is the best idea, if this is what you've decided, I will respect your choice. Elissa, I can also take on the role of a father. I can take care of you and the baby..."

Before he could finish, Elissa cut him off. "That won't be necessary. The role of the father is already taken." She and Frank couldn't afford any more complications between them, especially one of this magnitude.

Frank frowned. "Who?"

"Tanya," Elissa said with a small smile, deliberately misinterpreting him. "Besides, I think I'll be fine on my own can take good care of the child. The moment she decided to keep the baby, she had prepared for everything. Her current income was more than enough to support them both, and her job was flexible enough that she wouldn't have to choose between her career and her child.

Frank watched as her features softened, her entire presence seeming to glow with a gentle light as she spoke of the baby. A dull ache spread through his chest. He remembered how, just a few years ago, Elissa had often talked about wanting a child. But he, to appease Marcia, had never even touched her.

Now, the thought of her carrying another man's child—and truly embracing the idea of motherhood, something she would undoubtedly be wonderful at-sent a wave of sour regret from his heart to his head, making his eyes sting. "You're that excited to have a baby?"

Elissa, lost in her own thoughts, answered softly, "Yes. When it came, I was so happy." She had always wanted a family.

The setting sun cast long shadows through the hallway window. Frank turned his head away abruptly, fighting back the overwhelming bitterness. Perhaps only God knew how much, in that moment, be regretted the choices he had made. If he had agreed when Elissa wanted a child, they might have had a bright, lovely child by now. They would be

have

never have been able to sever their

never

ties so cleanly. A child would have

called her 'Mommy' and him 'Daddy.' An unbreakable bond.

Frank looked down, his hand hovering in the air as if to stroke her hair, but he let it fall. "As long as you're happy. It's just... hard to believe the little girl I once knew is about to become a mother." Time moved so fast, with no chance to turn back.

Elissa smiled faintly. Just as she was about to speak, the door behind her opened.

Tanya was surprised to see Frank. She looked at Elissa. "I thought I heard voices out here. Do you want to come in and talk?"