?Chapter 283:


    Their bodies went stiff. Without turning, they exchanged looks that said it all. If murder were legal, they might’ve buried Hugh under the rug and called it a day. Dragging their feet like men headed to the gallows, they turned and trudged back toward Cole.


    Cole’s smile was barely there, but the mischief in his eyes said enough. “It’d be dull watching Hugh il around on his own. Why don’t you two jump in and make it a group activity?”


    Resigned to their misfortune, Myles and Aron sank to the floor and started their push-ups in sync.


    Still not ready to back down, Hugh threw Cole a challenging look. “Mr. Evans, what rule did I even break? Is it so wrong that I show a little concern for you? Isn’t this just you trampling all over my feelings?”


    Gazing at Hugh, Cole let azy smile form. “And I care about you, too. I’m just helping you toughen up a bit. Since when is that a crime?”


    That seemed to make sense to Hugh. “Okay.” No further questions asked, he willingly did push-ups, finallypliant.


    Beside him, Myles and Aron looked as though their souls were crying. If reincarnation were real, they were convinced their mother must’ve eaten…


    Something questionable while pregnant with Hugh. It was the only exnation for why he was still this dense at twenty-two. As all three focused on their push-ups,pletely absorbed, no longer pestering him or reading his every twitch, Cole felt an odd wave of peace settle over him.


    With a quiet sigh, he looked back down at his phone, where Elliana’s message still glowed on the screen. The second he read it again, the tips of his ears burned red all over once more. There was no denying it—his wife was truly an enchantress.


    Back when she had no interest in him, he used to tease her on purpose just to get a reaction. And she’d always blush and turn away, flustered and iling. But ever since she agreed to be with him, she had unleashed a full arsenal of seductive charm, showering him with sugarced texts, sultry nces, and teasing words at every turn.


    Her boldness left him constantly flustered, his face heating up and his heartbeat tripping over itself more times than he could count. Inparison, he feltpletely outssed. For all his practiced confidence, his flirtation tactics felt clumsy next to her effortless allure. No other woman had ever rattled him like Elliana. She didn’t just flirt—she wove temptation into every breath, every gesture, until he was teetering on the edge.


    ???????????????? ????????: g??????????ν???．????．???．??


    And the most maddening part? She made it a point to keep things slow. Her teasing knew no limits, but her boundaries were firm. Hugs and kisses, that was the line. Anything beyond that was forbidden—and he, left burning with unfulfilled desire in frustration, could only obey.


    Elliana had no idea that one yful message, casually sent without a second thought, had sent Cole into a full emotional tailspin. Once she finished getting ready, she headed out with Hailee by her side.


    Upon arriving at the banquet venue, Elliana asked Paulina to stay behind in the car with Hailee while she stepped into the banquet hall alone.


    Over time, the Craig family had prospered significantly thanks to the backing of the Evans family. With that support, their business had flourished, their social reach expanded, and they climbed swiftly up Ublento’s elitedder. Naturally, those in power lined up to stay in their good graces. So, it came as no surprise that Boris and Hester’s engagement party was a grand spectacle, packed with dignitaries and power yers.


    .


    .


    .