Chapter 524

No matter how slow Evan usually was, he knew exactly what to do in this situation.

He scurried over and obediently surrendered the phone. "Here you go."

*I'm so sorry, Ms. Drummond!*

*This wasn't my fault.*

*It was all lan.*

*That bastard is too sneaky!*

*No, pure evil!*

Rowan took the phone and didn't even entertain the idea of answering it. He immediately hit decline and asked, "Where is she?"

Evan blinked, taking a second to realize who 'she' was, but lan eagerly beat him to the punch. "Watering the flowers in the backyard."

Rowan gave a low hum of acknowledgment and headed toward the back doors.

The moment he was out of earshot, Evan glared at lan, grinding his teeth. "You played dirty!"

lan smirked, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "It's your own fault for being so dense."

There was absolutely no reason for Elissa to take a call from her ex-husband.

A good ex-husband should act like he was dead, not pop out of the grave to ruin their boss's romantic progress.

Besides, when it came to this sort of thing, their boss was overwhelmingly petty.

The incredibly petty man in question stepped into the backyard, phone in hand. Seeing Elissa cheerfully watering the plants chipped away at the icy edge in his eyes.

She stood in the sunlight, bathed in a warm, radiant glow, looking like a literal ray of sunshine.

Before he could say anything, Elissa noticed him and smiled. "Why are you back so early?"

"To have lunch with you."

Closing the distance with long strides, Rowan held up the phone and spoke with a dry, sarcastic drawl. "Someone called you."

"Who?"

Elissa looked confused, reaching for the phone to check.

If it was a scammer or a sales pitch, she wouldn't bother.

Before she could even open the call log, the dry drawl continued. "Frank Atwater."

"

Elissa's heart gave a nervous thump.

She had a pretty good idea why Rowan was acting so jealous—he still thought the baby belonged to Frank.

She had debated just telling him the truth.

Other than him, she hadn't touched another man.

But her true identity...

It terrified her.

If she really was the descendant of a notorious drug lord, the scandal would drag Rowan down with her, let alone the baby.

The Murphy Group and the public would never accept the reigning CEO marrying someone with that kind of bloodline.

And yet, if Rowan knew the baby was his, he would likely stand

against the entire world and the net

away his empire before he ever let her go.

She didn't want him to do that.

He had been orphaned at a young age, and the power he held now had been paid for with his own blood. There were countless enemies lurking in the shadows, waiting for

the perfect moment to tear him from his throne.

She refused to be the vulnerability that ruined him.

For the past few days, she had been desperately hoping for good news from Old Mr. Cross, but there had been total silence.

When she went to adjust his prescription next, she planned to ask if he had made any progress.

Masking her turbulent thoughts, Elissa looked up at Rowan with feigned indifference. "Oh. Frank."

When she made no move to use the phone, Rowan raised an eyebrow. "That's it? You aren't going to call him back?"

II

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Elissa didn't take the bait. "Let's just eat first. If I have time later, I'll call him."

A distinct note of satisfaction lifted the corners of Rowan's mouth.

He was clearly the priority.

But just as they turned to head inside, her phone started ringing again.

Caller ID: Frank Atwater.

*He was like a leech!*

Irritation flashed in Rowan's eyes. Seeing Elissa answer the call as she walked toward the edge of the courtyard, he instinctively started to follow her, only to be stopped by a pointed dough from behind.

Rowan turned around and saw his grandmother watching him with vast amusement,

forcing him to halt in his tracks.

He hadn't realized she was standing there.

Janice let out a soft huff of laughter. "You really don't see anyone else in the room

when she's around, do you?"