?Chapter 33:
Cole, with his striking good looks andmanding presence, instantly overshadowed Ran, who had, until moments ago, been the center of attention at his own engagement party.
The grand banquet hall fell into an uneasy silence as all eyes turned to Cole, the atmosphere thick with curiosity.
Upon his arrival, Ran knew better than to show any sign of disrespect. He quickly descended from the stage, his voice barely masking his nervousness. “Mr. Evans, it’s an unexpected honor to have you here at my engagement celebration!”
Paige hesitated for a moment, then followed Ran, her steps faltering as she moved toward Cole. But Cole regarded Ran with cold indifference, his voice slicing through the tension. “Mr. Hudson, spare me the pleasantries. I’m not here for your engagement festivities. I’m here for my wife.”
Ran’s expression hardened into one of shock.
In that moment, Elliana stood alone on the stage, and instinctively, every eye in the room shifted toward her. “Is Cole upset with Elliana?”
“Perhaps Paige was right all along. The gown and jewelry were stolen, and now Cole hase to expose Elliana’s deception.”
The murmurs fueled Paige’s confidence. Her excitement swelled as she waited for Cole to publicly humiliate Elliana, or better yet, to punish her severely. Seizing her moment, she pounced. “Cole, you see, Elliana stole such exquisite finery and caused this spectacle at my engagement because she’s desperately in love with Ran. She simply couldn’t bear to watch the man she adores engaged to someone else. Her actions, while inappropriate, stem from heartbreak—so perhaps you shouldn’t be too harsh with her.”
Her words dripped with hypocrisy. What husband would tolerate hearing his wife profess undying love for another man? This wasn’tpassion, but a calcted provocation.
The crowd exchanged knowing nces, silently scoffing at Paige’s transparent scheme, their eyes alight with anticipation for the drama that was unfolding.
Paige gazed up at Cole, her charm fully on disy, her eyes betraying unmistakable longing. Despite choosing Ran, she couldn’t help but be drawn to Cole’s maic presence.
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toward Paige. “Miss Jones, your usation is absurd. My wife wears her own gown and jewelry. How could that possibly constitute theft?”
With that statement, he confirmed that Elliana’s magnificent attire had indeed been provided by him.
Cole’s voice hardened. “And Miss Jones, let me assure you—with me by her side, my wife would never lower her standards to desire your boyfriend. She possesses excellent taste!”
Paige felt as though she’d been pped across the face. The sting of humiliation burned her cheeks as the crowd’s whispers grew bolder.
“Elliana’s finery was truly a gift from Cole himself. She must hold considerable favor in the Evans household!”
“For a woman many consider in to receive such preferential treatment, she must possess extraordinary qualities. I wonder how she secured her position in the Evans family.”
Humiliation dragged Paige into an emotional abyss, her heart churning with resentment, jealousy, and rage.
But Cole hadn’t finished with Paige. His voice rang out again,manding attention. “I must publicly rify matters today. My grandfather owed Mr. Hilliard Jones a debt of gratitude, hence the promise of a marriage alliance. However, the agreement never specified which daughter of the Jones family would be an Evans bride. The Evans family chose Elliana—a decision both appropriate and justified. The im that Elliana ‘stole’ Paige’s marriage is patently false. Should I hear anyone spreading rumors that tarnish either the Evans family name or Elliana’s reputation, I will pursue legal action without hesitation!”
His words carried unmistakable authority, sending a chill through the assembly and silencing every whisper. The Evans familymanded the most formidable legal team in the country. Anyone dragged to court by them faced inevitable destruction. Who would dare utter another syble?
Paige’s nails dug crescents into her palms. She had meticulously crafted rumors, painting Elliana as a maniptive thief who had stolen her marriage. This narrative had made Elliana a target for public scorn while garnering sympathy for herself. But Cole had demolished it in seconds. The Evans family had never officially announced her engagement to Cole. Those online ims had been her own fabrications, now thoroughly debunked by Cole himself, transforming her into an object of ridicule. Standing beneath countless judgmental stares, drowning in embarrassment, she realized she had no ground left to stand on.
Everyone awaited Cole’s rebuke of Elliana, but instead, he turned his sharp sarcasm toward Paige. “Miss Jones, your usation is absurd. My wife wears her own gown and jewelry. How could that possibly constitute theft?”
With that statement, he confirmed that Elliana’s magnificent attire had indeed been provided by him.
Cole’s voice hardened. “And Miss Jones, let me assure you—with me by her side, my wife wouldn’t lower her standards to desire your boyfriend. She possesses excellent taste!”
Paige felt as though she’d been pped across the face, the sting of humiliation burning her cheeks. The crowd’s whispers grew louder.
“So Elliana’s finery was truly a gift from Cole himself. She must hold considerable favor in the Evans household!”
“For a woman many consider in to receive such preferential treatment, she must possess extraordinary qualities. I wonder how she secured her position in the Evans family.”
Humiliation dragged Paige into an emotional abyss, her heart churning with resentment, jealousy, and rage.
But Cole hadn’t finished with Paige. His voice rang out again,manding attention. “I must publicly rify matters today. My grandfather owed Mr. Hilliard Jones a debt of gratitude, hence the promise of a marriage alliance. However, the agreement never specified which daughter of the Jones family would be an Evans bride. The Evans family chose Elliana—a decision both appropriate and justified. The im that Elliana ‘stole’ Paige’s marriage is patently false. Should I hear anyone spreading rumors that tarnish either the Evans family name or Elliana’s reputation, I will pursue legal action without hesitation!”
His words carried unmistakable authority, sending a chill through the assembly and silencing every whisper. The Evans familymanded the most formidable legal team in the country. Anyone dragged to court by them faced inevitable destruction. Who would dare utter another syble?
Paige’s nails dug crescents into her palms. She had meticulously crafted rumors, painting Elliana as a maniptive thief who had stolen her marriage, making Elliana a target for public scorn while garnering sympathy for herself. Cole had demolished this narrative in seconds. Indeed, the Evans family had never announced her engagement to Cole. Those online ims had been her own fabrications, now thoroughly debunked by Cole himself, transforming her into an object of ridicule. Standing beneath countless judgmental stares, drowning in mockery, Paige wished the floor would open and swallow her whole. With tears welling in her eyes, she looked imploringly at Cole, silently begging to know why he treated her with such cruelty.
But Cole turned away withplete indifference, addressing Elliana on the stage, “Are you nning to remain there all day?”
Elliana blinked in surprise, never having expected Cole to defend her so publicly. Hearing his impatient prompt, she snapped back to reality, gathered her gown, and hurried down from the stage to join him. As Elliana passed Paige, she offered a bright smile. “Paige, congrattions on your engagement!”
Her words pierced Paige’s heart like a dagger. The engagement celebrationy in ruins, the soon-to-be fiancé reduced to insignificance, and the soon-to-be fiancée transformed into the evening’sughingstock.
Everything had unraveled so swiftly that Paige couldn’t process the reversal. Something inside her snapped.
.
.
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