Chapter 1010
Ethan settled against the headboard, his composure undisturbed. “Tell me what happened.”
Jeremy lowered his voice. “He returned to the abandoned shack where we discovered Melisa. Our people watched him from a distance instead of following him directly. That way, we could keep track of him without giving him any reason to suspect anything. At this point, he probably has no idea he’s under surveillance.”
Ethan gave a slight nod, approval flickering across his features. “Well done.”
The knowledge that Brian was still being monitored eased something inside both of us. So long as we knew exactly where he was, everything we had arranged could continue according to plan.
While Ethan and Jeremy went over the details, I drew Tracy a little farther away and looked at her with concern. “What brought you here? You’re pregnant, and this is a hospital. You shouldn’t be exhausting yourself by running around places like this.”
Tracy merely smiled, looking completely unconcerned. “I’m perfectly fine. Walking a little won’t hurt me. If anything, it’s good for me. Stop worrying.”
I exhaled heavily. “You always take things far too lightly.”
She reached for my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’m being careful. You don’t have to worry about me.”
We continued talking when Tracy suddenly came dangerously close to revealing something. She stopped herself just before the words escaped.
I immediately noticed. “What were you about to say?”
She hesitated, then gave an evasive answer. “Nothing important. It’s about Frank.”
My chest tightened at his name. I studied her face. “What happened with him?”
Tracy shook her head. “Nothing serious. He’s only been asking about Ethan and whether everything is going according to plan.”
I remained quiet for a moment before giving her a gentle warning. “Try not to discuss me too much with Frank.”
For some time, I had been deliberately making myself less present in his world. I wanted Frank to gradually release whatever attachment he still carried and give himself the opportunity to find someone else, settle down, and live his own life. I couldn’t bear the thought of him spending years pouring his time and feelings into me.
Tracy, however, seemed to understand something I had been refusing to accept. Her expression grew solemn. “Lianne, I’m not sure whether I should tell you this.”
“Tell me.”
She released a quiet sigh. “Frank isn’t going to feel this way about another woman. Not with the intensity he has for you. What he feels isn’t shallow enough to disappear simply because you keep your distance.”
My heart clenched, leaving me unable to find a response.
“At this point, your survival is what matters most,” she continued in a gentle voice. “You need the antidote. You need to stay alive. If you eventually find happiness, Frank will come to terms with things. You don’t have to intentionally shut him out. Doing that might only make it harder for him to move forward.”
I lowered my gaze, struggling beneath the mess of emotions inside me. I knew Frank wasn’t the kind of man who would chase someone relentlessly or make their life difficult.
Perhaps that was exactly why his feelings weighed so heavily on my conscience. His silence, patience, and restraint only made the guilt inside me hurt more.