Chapter 571
Chapter 571:
Lance and Jeff soon wandered over and joined her for a chat. Their laughter filled the room, and the three of them barely noticed when Cole showed up at last.
Myles pushed Cole in, the wheelchair rolling quietly over the rug. Cole still appeared frail, but the neat haircut and smart suit gave him renewed energy and charm. Anyone could see he’d gone out of his way to look presentable for Elliana.
Jeff lounged beside Elliana on the sofa, wearing the lovesick grin of someone completely smitten, and it sparked a fire of jealousy in Cole’s chest. Cole had half a mind to grab the irritating kid by the collar and hurl him straight into the nearest trash can.
Completely unaware of the tension, Jeff asked, “Cole? Did you force your way in here p>
Jeff’s words grated on Cole’s nerves. Regal Grove was his creation—built from scratch, brick by brick. Back when he owned the place, no one dared to step in without his say-so. But now? Jeff was living here like he owned it, even throwing a questioning look over.
Cole took a deep breath, his irritation simmering beneath the surface. What did Jeff mean by forcing his way in? This was once his ground, and Elliana invited him over. Jeff must be out of his mind to spout this nonsense!
One look at Jeff’s smug face, and Cole’s fists itched. His voice dropped, cold and sharp. “What, I’m not allowed to show up now p>
Jeff stiffened. Even after moving out of the Evans house, his fear of Cole hadn’t faded. That fear ran deep, rooted in childhood.
Faced with Cole’s glare, Jeff kept his mouth shut. He quietly leaned closer to Elliana, seeking protection.
But the gesture only fueled Cole’s rage. Everyone in the room could feel it—jealousy humming in the air like static.
Elliana let out a silent sigh and looked to the ceiling. Then, she turned to Lance. “Take Jeff for a walk. I need a word with Cole p>
Lance, also afraid of Cole, grabbed Jeff by the arm without hesitation.
“Come on. A little night air will do you good p>
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Reluctantly, Jeff followed, not daring to linger a second longer. Elliana gave Kieran a subtle nod. Kieran caught on right away and turned to the others. “Gentlemen, care for a stroll in the fresh night air?” Myles, Aron, and Hugh exchanged glances. They understood Elliana wanted privacy and quietly followed Kieran out.
Heather took off her apron and floated out the door with ease. Once outside, she tapped Hugh on the shoulder, a playful glint in her eyes. “Hey! Want to play?” Back in Podgend, she’d already taken a liking to this simple, honest guy. Now was her chance.
Hugh spun around, startled. A beautiful woman like Heather talking to him? He went red instantly, completely flustered. “W-what do you want to play?” he stammered.
Heather smiled, eyes twinkling. “Cards p>
Hugh was about to say his sister didn’t let him gamble, but Heather didn’t give him a chance. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along. Myles and Aron couldn’t stop them in time. But since Heather was Elliana’s friend, they weren’t too concerned.
Kieran chuckled to himself. Heather had failed to get the upper hand with Damian—now she was turning her attention to Hugh. Poor guy probably wouldn’t know what hit him.