Chapter 408

The topic made Tanya sigh. It was a shame. They had been a perfect couple, forced apart by the despicable actions of that old Murphy matriarch.

Her words made Elissa pause. It was true. Rowan hadn't denied it. Not at the press conference, and not now. But that didn't mean much. At most, it just meant he wasn't tired of their game yet.

Online, however, the fans were ecstatic.

*“OMG I'M DEAD! The brooding CEO and the genius scientist, they're a total power couple! The definition of a perfect match!"*

*And another blogger said they're childhood sweethearts! He lost his parents young, she's an orphan... are they living out a mutual rescue romance?!"*

*"Has anyone else noticed that even though he's taller, in every photo, Elissa is walking slightly ahead of him?"*

*... The details are killing me! I'm officially on board this ship!"*

Elissa scanned the comments, a single question nagging at her. How did these photos get out? Rowan's private life was notoriously guarded. There were never any candid shots of him online. What paparazzi would be suicidal enough to cross him?

An image of a man flashed in her mind. Finn. He was unsettling, and he had made it clear he was targeting both her and Rowan. He also gave off the impression of someone who played by no rules. This online spectacle could very well be his handiwork.

Before she could dwell on it, she

heard a faint noise from outside the apartment Tanya was about to check when the doorbell rang. She opened the door, and after a quick glance at the scene outside, she She shot Elissa a look that said, you're on your own.*

The ex-boyfriend and the ex-husband had collided once again. This was going to be good.

Puzzled, Elissa walked to the door. Her eyes first landed not on Frank standing outside, but on Rowan, further down the hall by the elevator, directing movers. What could he possibly be moving that required his personal supervision? He stood with his back to her, his expression cold, seemingly oblivious and utterly uninterested in her presence.

Frank noticed her gaze drift, and a shadow crossed his eyes. He smiled, pulling her attention back. "Edna was bringing you dinner. I ran into her downstairs, so I brought it up for you."

Elissa looked away from Rowan. She had been meaning to talk to Frank about paying Edna herself. She managed a polite smile. "Have you eaten? Why don't you join me?"

Frank was pleasantly surprised by the invitation. "Alright," he said, his expression softening.

Elissa stepped back to let him in. As she was about to close the door, a languid voice drifted from the hallway. "I haven't eaten either. I'll join too."

Before Elissa could respond, Rowan used his long legs to stride into the apartment, his posture relaxed. It was a declaration, not a request.

As Frank was pulling out a pair of disposable slippers, Rowan bent down and, with practiced ease, retrieved his own pair of house.

slippers from the shoe cabinet

Then, as if that weren't enough, he glanced at Elissa with a pointed look and said, seemingly on Frank's

behalf, "How come I got new

slippers the first time came over, i but he's been here so many times and he's still using the disposable ones?"

***