Chapter 454

Elissa's thoughts were a tangled mess. She didn't dare to consider what Rowan might have been about to say back then. Could he have meant... that he would marry her?

A single blink, and a tear fell, landing on her clothes and spreading into a dark spot. The car's interior was dim, and she hadn't made a sound, but a moment later, a man's rough, dry thumb was gently brushing her cheek.

The dampness on his skin felt like a soft scratch against Rowan's heart. It ached.

After wiping her tears away, Rowan remained silent for a long time before finally answering her question.

"Little Nine, back then... I really couldn't think of a better way."

His voice was heavy, and hearing it, Elissa's tears fell even faster. She looked up, her face streaked with them. As he reached for a tissue to wipe them away, she closed the distance and pressed her lips against his.

This was the second time she had initiated a kiss recently, but it was different from the last. This time, after their lips met, she didn't do anything more, just gently nuzzled against his cheek.

Rowan's body tensed, but this was the girl he had willingly cherished for so long. He returned her gentle affection, his hands finding her waist and pulling her onto his lap.

Just as he was about to deepen the kiss, Elissa's phone rang, shattering the moment.

The caller ID displayed Cliff Riley's name. Cliff rarely called at this hour unless it was important.

She sniffled, pulling back to answer the phone. "Hello, Cliff? What's wrong?"

"Elissa, have you seen the news online?" Cliff's voice was full of concern. "Are you okay?"

"I've seen it, but I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

She was certain her formula was sound. The next step was to get back to Vistapeak City and trace the rumors back to their source.

"That's good to hear," Cliff said, then hesitated. "So, when are you..."

He knew about her car accident and

had wanted to visit her in Cresthaven, but since she was staying with the Wilkinsons, it had been inconvenient. He'd decided to wait until she returned to Vistapeak City. He knew now wasn't the time to add to her worries.

But Elissa sensed something was wrong. "Cliff, what is it? Did someone on the

project team take advantage of the situation to..."

"No, it's not that," Cliff said, deciding

it was better to just tell her. "It's

about Professor Blaine. After the

press conference, everyone knows

you're his protégé. With this incident,

this incident,

the online mob couldn't find your

address, so they went to his house instead."

The online outrage was massive, a full-blown.case of cyberbullying. Without any concrete evidence, people were accusing Elissa and the Murphy Group of endangering lives for profit.

If Rowan and the Wilkinson family hadn't been protecting her whereabouts, the mob would have surely found her first.

Hearing this, Elissa's brow furrowed. Just as she was about to speak, Rowan took the phone from her hand.

His voice was calm and commanding. "Mr. Riley, please tell the professor and his wife to pack some necessities. I'm sending people to pick them up so they can lie low for a while."

Cliff was surprised to hear Rowan's voice. "Okay, I'll tell them right now. But their yard is surrounded by people. How will you..."

"Just let them know," Rowan said coolly. "Leave the rest to me."