Chapter 627

Rex hadn't realized he was being so obvious. He rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Was

1?"

"Pull yourself together," Rowan shot him a sideways glance, deciding not to waste another second. "I'm taking Elissa home. Nash has definitely tracked Finn's route by now. If you need any updates, contact him directly."

Originally, Rowan had absolutely no intention of letting Finn walk out of this alive. But Orion Stone's sudden interference was a wild card. If letting Finn go meant they could finally trace Orion's location, it was a worthwhile trade.

Rex, knowing Rowan always had a backup plan, nodded. "Got it."

Laurel was still worried sick about Elissa. She followed them to the car, leaning in to negotiate with Rowan. "The situation with Finn is going to be messy. Are you going to have the time to properly look after Elissa? If not, I can take her back to Zephyr Manor in a couple of days and care for her myself."

Since the truth of Elissa's parentage hadn't been officially revealed yet, Laurel couldn't just forcefully take her away. Plus, she knew Rowan had been Elissa's anchor for the past ten years.

A vein throbbed in Rowan's temple. He declined firmly. "I have the time, and I will take perfect care of her. You don't need to worry."

Having no other excuse, Laurel simply gave Elissa a few more warm instructions. Just as she was about to close the car door, Elissa spoke up softly. "Laurel... thank you."

Laurel's eyes suddenly burned with unshed tears. "It was the least I could do."

She quickly composed herself, her voice a bit rushed. "Alright, go home and rest. I'll come visit you tomorrow if I have the time."

Elissa nodded, and Laurel gently closed the door.

As the car pulled away, Elissa watched Laurel's slender silhouette shrinking in the rearview mirror. A strange, bittersweet feeling twisted in her chest.

Rowan squeezed her hand gently. "Why did Laurel get a thank you, but I didn't?"

"I was only able to take down that guard because Laurel slipped me a silver pin," Elissa explained.

The down jacket Laurel had brought out to the terrace had a pin covertly tucked into the cuff. When Specs searched the coat he had only checked the pockets and missed the sleeves entirely.

Rowan realized what had happened. "I didn't expect you two to have such perfect

sisterly intuition."

we do..." Elissa

"Of course w

instinctively replied, her mind

wandering as she wished Laurel

wandering as

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actually was her older sister. But then, she remembered the crisis that had started this entire nightmare How is my mentors wife doing? Cán he handle everythingpat the hospital by himself?"

"Stop. You don't need to worry about that anymore," Rowan interrupted gently, smoothing a hand over here hair. "I've already given the antidote to Mr Blaine. His wife should be cleared to leave the hospital by tomorrow."

Elissa's eyes widened in shocked delight. "How did you get the antidote?"

Rowan hesitated for a second. Looking into her bright, hopeful eyes, he decided on the truth. "I got it from Frank."

She froze. Even exhausted, she immediately caught the dark implication of his words. "He had something to do with her getting poisoned?"

"He didn't poison her himself," Rowan answered honestly, unsure of how to explain the tangled web of Frank's twisted logic.

Seeing his hesitation, Elissa remembered that Frank had shown up to help rescue her tonight. She pressed her lips together. "Forget it. From now on... I'll just keep my distance."

Frank wasn't inherently evil; he was just driven by profound selfishness. But his selfishness had crossed a line she could no longer tolerate. They were simply on different paths now.

Rowan noticed the dimming light in her eyes. "Are you sad?"

"Not exactly sad." Elissa didn't know how to describe the complicated emotional fatigue settling over her. She just looked up at the man sitting beside her. "Rowan, let's just go home."

Home. To their home.