?Chapter 223:


    Reading the cue, Aron took off at a sprint toward Elliana. He crashed through the doors and found Cole and Elliana tangled together, whispering tender words on the couch.


    Flushing, Aron forced himself to deliver the news. “Sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Jason Evans and Miss Trinity Craig are here.”


    Elliana bolted upright, escaping Cole’s arms and tearing up the stairs in a blur.


    Aron just stared after her, ck-jawed. He couldn’t get over how fast she moved—like she’d flipped a switch, vanishing before his eyes.


    Cole sat frozen for a moment, Elliana’s warmth barely faded from his embrace. Suddenly, the room felt emptier than ever.


    When Jason and Trinity walked in together, Cole quickly straightened up and pulled himself together.


    At once, Myles, Aron, and Hugh noticed the shift in Cole. The man who had just been rxed and yful in front of his wife now sat tall and serious. In an instant, he slipped into the role of the Evans family’s head—calm andmanding.


    “Cole,” Jason greeted.


    Cole gave a slight nod, his eyes resting on Jason’s face. “When did you get back?”


    Jason replied, calm and steady, “I arrived in Ublento two hours ago. I paid my respects to our grandpa and came straight here to see you.” His eyes quietly scanned Cole. “I heard you were injuredst night. How are you feeling now?”


    “It’s just a minor injury. Nothing serious,” Cole said with a careless shrug.


    Trinity spoke up, her voice sweet and sunny. “Cole, we were really worried when we heard you got hurt.”


    Since Trinity had walked in, Cole hadn’t looked at her. But when she spoke, he nced her way for a moment and asked coolly, “Why are you here?”


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    Trinity’s smile wavered slightly under his cold tone, but she held her poise as always—graceful and gentle, just as she had trained herself to be. “I was truly worried when I heard you were injured. Jason wasing, so I asked toe along. I just wanted to see how you were doing,” she said softly.


    Any other man might have been charmed by her warmth, but Cole remained unreadable. He nced at her briefly and then lowered his eyes. “I’m fine. If you’ve got other things to do, you can go.”


    Trinity’s hands tightened slightly where they rested in front of her. Every time she reached out to Cole, she hit a wall. His coldness left her feeling awkward and small. She found herself in a dilemma, unsure whether to stay or leave.


    Just as the silence stretched, Jason stepped in. “Trinity came with me. I’ll be taking her back. And Cole, she also has something she’d like to discuss with you.”


    At that, Trinity quietly let out a breath. Though Cole never showed her the warmth she longed for, Jason’s thoughtfulness was a smallfort.


    In her mind, the Craig and Evans families were set to be united through marriage, and she would marry into the Evans family one day. She never said it aloud, but in her heart, she had weighed the Evans men carefully. In the end, she only had eyes for one.


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