?Chapter 373:


    “So, he’s the Cooper family’s illegitimate son? He’s incredibly handsome.”


    “Such a waste, though. He’s just a good-looking flirt with no real ambition.”


    “I’ve heard he has a string of admirers, and he never turns any of them down. His reputation as a heartbreaker is well known!”


    “Exactly! Word is his private life is a mess, andtely, there’s even talk that he’s being kept by someone…”


    Rosanna caught every whispered word, and the shock hit her hard. An illegitimate son? And being kept by someone? Her heart, which had been racing moments ago, abruptly settled down.


    She wanted to climb the socialdder by marrying a true nobleman, not someone like Chris, who was an illegitimate son with no prospects. “What a waste,” she muttered silently.


    Even though disappointment weighed heavily on her, Rosanna still found herself sneaking another nce at Chris.


    He was far too captivating, effortlessly pulling her gaze back to him.


    Mariana’s smile faded the instant she heard the gossip swirling around them. Her voice turned sharp and chilly as she said, “Chris is my cousin and a rightful member of the Cooper family. If anyone here keeps spreading rumors about him, don’t me me for cutting you off.”


    The circle of society women immediately hushed, the lively chatter dying out into uneasy silence.


    Chris dropped his gaze to Mariana, a faint glimmer of warmth passing through his otherwise indifferent expression. He had never cared about society’s opinion, but in the Cooper family, only his grandfather and Mariana had epted him without prejudice.


    Though she was Kolton’s daughter, Chris had always treated her with a quiet tenderness, regarding her as the closest thing he had to a younger sister.


    Mariana leaned lightly against his arm, breathing in the crisp scent of cedar that clung to him. The familiar smell made her heart flutter uncontrobly.


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    Ever since she firstid eyes on Chris, no other man had ever entered her heart.


    Back then, Mariana had no idea Chris was her cousin and had secretly fallen for him.


    When she finally mustered the courage to confess her feelings, the truth hit her like a blow. The rumored illegitimate son of the Cooper family—her own cousin—was Chris.


    The heartbreak lingered for a long time, but in the end, she had no choice but to ept it. Even if they could not be lovers, she wished that this “cousin” would always stay by her side, belonging to her in some way.


    Sadly, the rest of the Cooper family held nothing but disdain for Chris, and her father led the charge.


    The growing tension between their families only made it harder for Mariana and Chris to even cross paths.


    Chris rarely reached out to her. When he did, it was always about their grandfather—nothing more. Despite all the reasons Mariana invented just to see him, Chris rejected her invitations time and again. That was why, today, she had used their grandfather’s presence at the party as an excuse to call him over.


    Yet the rumors swirling around Chris, about him being supported by some other woman, gnawed at her heart. She had tried to dig for information, but every lead turned up empty.


    Mariana clenched her fists in frustration.


    Across the banquet hall, Jarrod, restless and looking for any distraction, drifted through the crowd. Out of nowhere, a familiar figure caught his eye, making him halt in surprise.


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