?Chapter 102:


    One smooth line from Cole, and Elliana melted. She let him steal kiss after kiss all the way home, knowing she should stop him—but not wanting to.


    Cole’s lips wandered—lips grazing hers, gliding along her jaw, teasing her ear, trailing down her neck. He explored every inch with quiet intensity.


    Completely captivated, Elliana gazed at that maddeningly perfect face. His breath, warm and shallow, filled her ears. asionally, he’d draw a breathy gasp from her lips, making her skin buzz.


    Only when the car turned into Regal Grove and stopped outside that massive mansion did reality finally cut through the haze. As soon as Cole’s hand moved toward her sses, instinct kicked in. “Don’t,” she blurted out, sharper than she meant. Her fingers caught his just in time, halting the motion.


    Cole didn’t push. His eyes softened as they took in her blushing face. “You’re still not ready to let me look, huh?” he asked gently.


    Still catching her breath and tasting his kisses on her lips, Elliana gave a small shrug. “I’ve always kept my disguise up. I’m not ready to reveal my whole face yet.”


    “Alright, I’ll wait,” Cole said, letting her go without a flicker ofint in his voice. Even though every cell in his body screamed for more, he felt nothing but grateful that she’d let him kiss her for so long, and that was more than he expected. There was no rush. If she needed more time, she’d have it. He didn’t need to see her bare face to know he was already all in—she checked every box that mattered.


    Realizing Cole wouldn’t push her, Elliana finally rxed. She straightened in her seat, fingers smoothing down her tangled hair and wrinkled clothes.


    Cole didn’t say much—just watched her quietly, that tender grin never fading as he helped fix the little things she missed.


    Out of nowhere, a thought smacked her like a p. She turned toward him fast. “Wait… How did you recognize me?”


    Her mind buzzed with questions. Wasn’t he supposed to believe she was in, even ugly? Her look today was miles from that image—yet he’d recognized her without hesitation. That could only mean one thing: he’d known the truth long before today. But how long had he been hiding it?


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    “I figured out a while ago you weren’t nearly as unattractive as you pretended to be,” Cole said without blinking.


    Elliana’s eyes narrowed. “So it was my face that reeled you in, huh? One nce and suddenly you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself?” For a moment, she had genuinely believed he was drawn to who she was—not just what she looked like. Maybe he was just superficial.


    Picking up on her tone, Cole let out a softugh. “I didn’t fall for a pretty face. On our wedding day, I really thought you weren’t much to look at. But your demeanor? That fierce spirit? That’s what got me.”


    Now that? That she could live with. Makeup and outfits were fine, sure. But deep down, she wanted someone who could see past the surface and still stay.


    “So when exactly did you realize I wasn’t ugly?” Elliana asked, raising an eyebrow.


    “On our wedding night. I identally brushed off your veil and wig. Some of that thick makeup smeared, and I caught a glimpse of your real skin. Your face was breathtaking. The makeup had only been covering it up,” Cole exined.


    Cole paused and then added with quiet certainty, “From that, I could picture the real you. Gorgeous, exactly my type.”


    She raised an eyebrow. So, Cole had seen through her disguise all along, yet still teased her about it. That realization made her jaw clench. But when he called her his type, it hit deeper than she expected. Her nce toward him wasn’t something she meant to give away.


    She had no clue what that look did to him. One secondter, he leaned in, lips finding hers again as he pulled her closer like he couldn’t help it.


    Earlier, as soon as the car came to a stop, Myles, Aron, Hugh—and yes, even the driver—had scrambled out like the car was on fire. Once outside, none of them dared to interrupt. They kept their heads down and their mouths shut, giving the couple space like their lives depended on it. Every single one of them looked like they’d just escaped a fire.


    Cole and Elliana had set off a firestorm in that backseat. While Myles and the others couldn’t see much, the breathy murmurs and barely-there moans? Absolute torment. They were still just young men. And Aron and Hugh especially? Way too innocent for this. Their faces were zing red as they practicallyunched themselves out of the car, arms crossed like they were freezing, though it was clear the shivers had nothing to do with the weather.


    Once far enough away from the car, Hugh leaned in and said, “I hadn’t expected Mr. Evans to try something like this in the car, even with us on board.”


    Aron didn’t bother answering—just gave a half-smile and kept his thoughts to himself.


    Myles adjusted his tie like it might restore his dignity. But Hugh, still hopelessly clueless, jogged over and asked, “So, um, are they going to keep making out forever or what?”


    “Shut up,” Myles snapped without looking at him.


    Defeated, Hugh dragged himself back toward Aron, eyes on the ground. Meanwhile, the air inside the car was thick with heat, and it wasn’t from the engine.


    Cole couldn’t get enough. Like a sugar-high kid with no brakes, he kept finding Elliana’s lips, again and again. Every time she tried to speak, he silenced her with another kiss.


    Elliana was losing itpletely overwhelmed by his persistence and charm. Out of breath and out of patience, she finally pushed him off. “Hold up—I just realized something and it’s not making sense.”


    Though reluctant to stop, Cole leaned back slightly, his gaze still burning. “What’s bothering you?”


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