Chapter 550

She absentmindedly picked up a newly released handbag. "But how did Marcia even get mixed up with Wyatt in the first place?"

She had assumed Marcia was singularly obsessed with marrying back into the Atwater family.

But judging by how fiercely confident Wyatt was, it was entirely possible the baby really was his.

Thinking back to Marcia's alliance with Paige Jensen, Elissa pieced it together. "She probably handed over some massive blackmail material when she teamed up with Paige last time."

"Well then..." Tanya scoffed. "She totally shot herself in the foot."

Elissa didn't deny it, choosing to drop the subject.

Paige Jensen was ruthless to her very core. For Marcia to ally with her just to target Elissa... it was certainly a bold strategy.

Noticing the handbag Tanya was holding suited her perfectly, Elissa walked straight to the register to pay for it.

Tanya's jaw dropped. "What are you doing? Did you win the lottery?"

That bag was easily six figures.

Elissa shot her a sideways glance. "I didn't win the lottery, but your birthday is coming up."

Tanya was just about to launch into a dramatic speech of praise when out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a tall, broad-shouldered figure approaching the boutique.

She froze as the man strode inside. He stopped right in front of them, but addressed only Elissa. "Once you're done shopping, should I have someone drive you girls home?"

Marcia and Maya had just stormed off in a blind rage. Given Marcia's long-standing vendetta against Elissa, there was no telling what psychotic stunt she might pull. Rex didn't want Elissa getting caught in the crossfire of his family's mess.

Knowing exactly what he was worried about, Elissa offered a soft smile and politely declined. "That's okay. Ian is already waiting for me in the parking garage."

The moment they ran into Marcia, she had texted lan.

Back when she was alone, she hadn't feared anything because she had nothing to lose. But now, she was carrying a baby.

Even if it was a bit of a hassle, safety came first.

"But..."

Before Rex could nod, Elissa glanced at Tanya and smoothly pivoted. " have to rush back and have dinner with Mrs. Garrett. Could you take Tanya home?"

Tanya was caught completely off guard by the ambush. "I can just stay and keep you company tonight..."

Rex cut her off, his words loaded with a double meaning. "She won't need your company tonight."

Elissa didn't read too much into it, but Tanya-having once been his girlfriend— knew exactly how his mind worked.

She shot Rex a questioning look. When he gave a nearly imperceptible nod, everything clicked.

Rowan had flown back early to hijack her plans and pull off a grand romantic surprise!!

He wouldn't even let her have one evening with her best friend!

Cursing Rowan ten thousand times in her head, Tanya grabbed her birthday gift and let Rex walk Elissa to the car with her.

Inside the luxury SUV, Evan was in the driver's seat, with Nash riding shotgun.

After buckling her seatbelt, Elissa instinctively asked, "lan didn't come?"

"Oh, him? He went to the airport."

Evan's mouth moved much faster than his brain. Since he was driving, Nash didn't dare reach over to cover his mouth, forced to sit there as Evan spilled their boss's entire secret. "Boss had lan rebook his flight in the middle of the night. He should be landing and back at the house by eight or nine tonight."

Elissa's eyes lit up like stars. "Rowan is coming back early?"

"Yeah," Evan said. "Something must've triggered him. He was in a frantic rush."

Hearing that, a specific line from

their phone call last night suddenly echoed in Elissa's mind. The streetlights filtered through the passing trees, illuminating the soft,

rising flush on her cheeks,

-"My body and soul are aching for you."

So, was that why he was rushing back?

It felt as if a warm, frantic little rabbit was thumping wildly against her ribcage.

Subconsciously, she rested a protective hand over her stomach.

Baby, Daddy is coming home.