?Chapter 69:


    The moment Myles saw what was happening, he immediately stood up straighter. “Mr. Evans, would you like me to send someone to the museum to protect Mrs. Evans?”


    “Leave her be!” Cole let out a cold scoff. “She could use a taste of struggle. I’m the one to me for pampering her too much, making her think she’s owed everything. A bit of hardship might finally make her realize the value of what she’s been given.”


    Despite Cole’s words, Myles wasn’t entirely convinced. He kept quiet, doubting Cole truly meant what he said. After all, Cole hadn’t looked away from the screen. His eyes remained locked on Luciano’s image, burning with quiet fury—as if sheer focus might be enough to erase Luciano.


    That intensity hadn’t faded when Cole abruptly reached for his phone and began dialing without a word.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Myles caught the name on the screen—Cole was calling the director of the museum.


    The line connected almost immediately. A voice came through, cautious but polite. “Yes? Who is this?”


    Calm and calcted, Cole replied with a chill that didn’t match his casual tone, “Clement, it’s Cole Evans.”


    “Mr. Evans?” Suddenly, Clement Morgan’s voice shifted into anxious enthusiasm. “Mr. Evans! What an honor! How can I assist you today?” With the Evans family owning a substantial share of the Ublento Art Museum, and Cole poised as the next in line, Clement had every reason to tread carefully.


    “Things are heating up over there,” Cole said, his voice like ice breaking over still water. “Might be a good time to tighten security. Just in case something unfortunate happens.”


    And just like that, Cole ended the call without waiting for a response.


    Those few cryptic words alone were enough to send a chill crawling down Clement’s spine. The moment the line disconnected, he sprang into action, calling for his assistant. “Find out right now who stepped into the museum today and exactly what went down!”


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    He hesitated for a moment and then added, “Pay special attention to anything or anyone connected to Mr. Evans.”


    “Understood.” Wasting no time, the assistant immediately got to work, fingers already moving across the keyboard.


    Barely thirty secondster, the assistant turned back with a sharp update. “Mr. Morgan, Elliana—Mr. Evans’ wife—is currently on-site, filming at our museum. She’s already shed with Mr. Scott multiple times and is now being publicly scolded.”


    There was a brief pause. Then came the assistant’s hesitant follow-up,ced with doubt. “From what I’ve heard, though, she’s known for being useless and in-looking. Word is, Mr. Evans doesn’t think much of her. Surely, she wouldn’t be the reason behind Mr. Evans’ call?”


    Clement’s brow twitched in annoyance. “Anything else connected to Mr. Evans? Anyone else involved?”


    The assistant gave a firm shake of his head. “That’s everything we’ve got so far.”


    Without another word, Clement spun on his heel and strode toward the exit, his assistant hustling to keep up.


    The moment Clement stormed into the museum’s exhibition hall, he caught sight of Luciano’s bodyguards closing in on Elliana like wolves. Before they could reach her, Hailee stepped between them with both arms spread wide. Her voice was earnest and strained as she said, “Mr. Scott, please let this go. I know Elliana upset you, but I’m asking for your forgiveness. She’s delicate and can’t withstand your bodyguards’ assault.”


    Unfortunately, Hailee’s voice didn’t carry much influence. Nobody in the room took her seriously. She was just another face in the crowd, and her defense of Elliana came off as naive.


    Luciano let out an icyugh. “Young people these days have no sense of respect. Even those with no name or status think they can speak to me like my time means nothing.”


    With that, Luciano’s face clouded over. “Put this girl in her ce—and don’t forget the one standing with her!”


    The bodyguards lunged without hesitation, aggression radiating from every step.


    Without blinking, Elliana stepped in front of Hailee and threw out an arm to shield her, bracing herself for the iing threat.


    Just then, a voice cut through the tension like a whip. “Stand down! All of you, stop right now!”


    Clement barreled into the room, his shirt clinging to his back from the sprint, his forehead glistening with sweat. Luciano immediately straightened, setting aside his hostility to greet Clement.


    Despite his title and fame, Luciano knew how the hierarchy worked. Clement represented the financial backbone of the art world, and deference to that kind of power wasn’t optional—it was survival.


    “Mr. Morgan, I wasn’t expecting you today,” Luciano said, shing a well-practiced smile as he weed Clement.


    Clement’s eyes swept across the room, taking in the chaotic scene. Relief washed over his features when he saw that Elliana remained untouched. Once he steadied his breath, he turned toward Luciano with a calm but firm warning. “This is my museum, Mr. Scott. I can’t allow violence under this roof. If something happens here, it falls on me.”


    Luciano chuckled, though hisughter felt forced around the edges. “Of course, Mr. Morgan. My apologies. I let my temper get the best of me. These kids are frustrating, but I won’t stir up any more trouble for you.”


    “d to hear it. That’s all I ask.”


    After trading a few polite formalities, Clement let his gaze linger on Elliana—subtle, but unmistakable—before pivoting to leave.


    Now that Clement had stepped in, Luciano knew better than to press his luck. He shot one final venomous re in Elliana’s direction and exited without another word.


    Paige and the others followed suit, leaving Elliana and Hailee alone in the room.


    Back in the CEO’s office at the Evans Group headquarters, the tension was rising fast. Everyone who had watched the events unfold onscreen could feel it—something had shifted.


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