?Chapter 158:


    Paige strolled into the café with Vivien hobbling at her side.


    After the injury during the show’s recording, Vivien had beenid up in the hospital. Today was her first outing, but her leg was still healing, making her limp like a wounded bird.


    Paige had shelled out a small fortune to lift Vivien’s spirits, hoping to pry out the Hudson family’s reaction to her humiliating flop at the Starry Oil Painting Competition.


    Vivien, Paige’s loyal fangirl, was more than happy to dish the dirt after being showered with perks.


    When Paige heard Lenard had pressured Ran to break off their engagement and pursue Elliana instead, her blood boiled with hatred. Elliana again! It only hardened her resolve to use Merritt to wipe Elliana off the map. Sure, she was still holding out for Cole, but she wasn’t about to toss Ran aside as her backup n until Cole was locked in.


    “Paige, you’re too good to me! I’m having the best day!” Vivien gushed, practically bouncing despite her limp.


    Paige shed a sweet smile. “We’re besties. Who else would I spoil?”


    Vivien’s face lit up, but her mood soured the second she spotted Elliana. Fury red like a matchstick, and she stormed over, venom dripping from her voice. “Elliana, you hideous nobody! Did you show up here to ruin our vibe because you knew Paige and I would be here?”


    Vivien was green with envy ever since learning Elliana was the famous Rosa. She’d dropped a fortune on Rosa’s designer clothes and jewelry, but now felt too humiliated to wear them. At first, she’d been spooked by Elliana’s status as Cole’s wife, but word was Cole was dodging the family estate to avoid sealing the deal with Elliana. That washed away her concerns.


    “Miss Hudson, you’ve got it all wrong. Elliana and I had no clue you’d be here,” Hailee jumped in, quick to defend Elliana.


    Vivien shot Hailee a look that could curdle milk and sneered, “Oh, it’s you. Shouldn’t you be racing to hand over your kidney to Boris? Why’re you sticking your nose in here?”


    With a nasty grin, Vivien added, “Wait, I get it. Ugly freaks and fools stick together. No wonder you two are pals!”


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    Elliana’s face stayed cool as ice. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a coin flying through the air, hitting Vivien’s calf.


    The coin was tiny, and Elliana’s move was lightning-fast. Nobody caught it. Vivien’s pained yelp rang out as she crumpled to the floor. Her injury was still raw, and the fall left her soaked in cold sweat, unable to stand.


    Elliana smirked, unfazed. Dealing with a clown like Vivien took nothing more than a well-aimed coin—no need for words.


    Paige missed Elliana’s sleight of hand and figured Vivien had just tripped over her own feet.


    Seeing Vivien writhing on the floor, Paige couldn’t help but think what a total klutz she was!


    Still, Paige put on a worried face and knelt beside Vivien. “Vivien, hang tight. I’ll call an ambnce.”


    Just as Paige reached for her phone, a man in ck darted over and snatched it from her hand.


    “Ah!” Paige yelped, seemingly startled. “Who are you? What do you want?”


    The guy didn’t even nce her way. In a sh, the café door mmed shut, and more men in ck materialized from the shadows, each gripping weapons that screamed trouble.


    Their vibe was pure menace, like wolves circling prey.


    The café had been dead quiet earlier, and Elliana had chalked it up to a slow day. But now it hit her. A trap had been set from the jump. She just hadn’t pinned down whether they were after her or Paige. Paige appeared paralyzed, her face white as a sheet, rooted to the spot while Vivien trembled on the floor.


    “Elliana, what do we do?” Hailee asked nervously.


    Elliana pulled Hailee behind her. “Don’t worry.”


    The men all wore ck masks, hiding their faces, but their eyes glinted with cold, practiced malice—marks of men who lived by the de.


    Elliana’s eyes narrowed, biding her time for the right move. Were these professional hitmen? Or maybe a seasoned mercenary crew, no strangers to spilling blood?


    The leader of the ck-d crew zeroed in on Elliana. “Sorry, Mrs. Evans. We’re here to nab you and squeeze the Evans family for ransom.”


    “y nice, and you won’t get hurt.”


    Elliana wasn’t fazed. So, she was the target. Now it was clear.


    Vivien, desperate, shouted, “We don’t know her! We’re just here for coffee, minding our own business. Let us go!”


    The leader sneered, his voice dripping with scorn. “Connected or not, you’re in the wrong ce at the wrong time.” He waved a hand at his crew. “Grab ’em all!”


    The men in ck surged forward like a tidal wave…


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