?Chapter 222:


    Miffed, Hugh trudged back toward Aron, sulking.


    Just then, Jason and Trinity appeared at the edge of the courtyard.


    The second Myles noticed them, he bolted upright. “Good afternoon, Miss Craig, Mr. Evans.”


    Jason, freshly back from an intensive stint training in Delta, had only just checked in with Ruben before heading here to see Cole.


    Trinity tagged along, iming she had her own reasons to meet with Cole.


    Jason’s presence was daunting—tall and rock-solid, the embodiment of a battle-scarred sentinel. His sharp gaze missed nothing, and there was a coiled tension in the way he moved, like a predator ready to strike.


    Most striking of all, he wore a half-ck mask that deepened the aura of danger around him, making anyone with sense keep their distance. Merlin radiated the hard-edged grit of a man shaped by years on the front lines. That raw, battle-born energy clung to him, impossible to miss. Jason, in contrast, masked his power beneath a calm exterior—his reputation built on outmaneuvering the Evans family’s enemies from the shadows, not brute force. The two couldn’t have been more different.


    Where Merlin’s ruthlessness shed in his eyes, Jason’s deadliest moves came hidden behind sharp strategy and subtle cunning. They were predators of entirely separate breeds.


    Within the Evans family’s younger ranks, Cole stood unchallenged at the top—an heir who wielded real authority. Jason worked as his silent enforcer, the iron fist keeping order, his loyalty never in doubt. Just by standing nearby, Jasonmanded a respect that silenced the room.


    Cole’s men—Myles, Aron, and Hugh—knew better than to cross Jason. No matter their loyalty to Cole, Jason’s presence alone kept them in line.


    Meanwhile, Trinity had clearly made an effort that day. Her makeup was wless, and her white dress rippled around her with every step. Loose strands of her hair fluttered in the gentle breeze, a faint trace of lotus perfume following her. Next to Jason’s imposing frame, she looked almost ethereal, fragile as a flower beside a towering oak.


    Jason gave Myles a curt nod, those razor-sharp eyes scanning the courtyard and reading the tension immediately. “What’s with all those expressions and silence?” he asked, his voice steady and low. “You all look like you’re hiding from something.”


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    Myles hesitated, mouth quirking, unwilling to confess that they were simply avoiding another episode of Cole and Elliana’s rollercoaster romance.


    Myles shrugged off the truth. “Mr. Evans got roughed upst night. He needs some downtime, so we’reying low.”


    Jason epted that exnation with a nod. “Heard Merritt tried to snatch Elliana. That’s why I hustled back to Ublento. I’ll go find Cole now.”


    Catching Jason’s intent, Myles darted a nce at Aron, silently signaling him to step in.


    When faced with outsiders, Elliana would slip into her full disguise, making every bit of her look ugly and ordinary, but now she’d dropped the facade. If Jason or Trinity caught a glimpse, her secret would be toast.


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