?Chapter 315:


    When Elliana finally pushed back her chair, the night outside had deepened to pitch ck. By the time she pulled into Regal Grove, the clock had just struck midnight. A strange hush enveloped the entire estate.


    Assuming Cole had already fallen asleep, Elliana slipped out of the car and padded quietly toward the vi, doing her best not to make a sound.


    Just as her hand reached the door, the butler darted into her path, his face drawn with concern. He leaned in and whispered, “Mrs. Evans, I suggest you tread very carefully tonight…”


    Elliana arched a brow, thrown by Barney’s urgent expression, and murmured, “Barney, what’s going on?”


    Barney leaned in andid out the whole mess in a few words, his voice low and fraught with anxiety. “Mr. Evans is utterly furious. He’s been on a warpath since ten o’clock—snapping at everyone in sight. Except Myles, Aron, and Hugh, nobody else dares breathe near him.”


    With a nervous gesture, Barney spread his hands apart. “He’s got this long whip—says he’s going to teach you a lesson when youe home. Maybe you should steer clear for a while? Let him cool off before heading inside?”


    Elliana pressed her lips together, disbelief flickering in her eyes. All this, just for herte return home over some spaghetti?


    Paulina, hovering just behind her, caught every word and jumped in, worry creasing her brow. “Did Mr. Evans eat dinner at all?”


    Barney shook his head as he replied, “Nope. He said he’d wait for Mrs. Evans and have ate-night snack together. But it’s nearly midnight, and you’re only just back. He’s been starving this whole time.” Looking embarrassed, Barney hesitated. “And, um… Mr. Evans also said…” He trailed off, clearly mortified to repeat Cole’s words.


    Confusion tightened Elliana’s expression. “What exactly did he say?”


    Letting out a dry chuckle, Barney answered, “He said if he starves to death, it’s all on you for ignoring him. And he added you’d better n to stay single forever after his demise, because if you marry someone else, he’ll haunt you even as a ghost.”


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    Elliana rolled her eyes so hard that she nearly saw her own brain. Honestly, where was the cold, mysterious Cole she’d first met? All that icy dignity had melted into childish melodrama.


    Beside her, Paulina pressed a hand to her mouth, barely suppressing augh. Post-marriage, Cole’s temperament had unraveled into something not far from a spoiled toddler’s.


    Barney nudged Paulina, lowering his voice. “Maybe you should take Mrs. Evans to a hotel for the night. Give Mr. Evans until morning to cool his jets. Otherwise—who knows what disaster’s waiting inside?”


    But before Paulina could answer, Elliana broke into a run and dashed straight for the front door.


    “Mrs. Evans, wait!” Barney yelped as he darted after her, but he came up toote.


    Left blinking at the doorway, Barney’s nerves frayed. He shot Paulina a panicked look. “What now? If Mr. Evans loses it and gets physical, Mrs. Evans isn’t the type to forgive and forget. By the time hees to his senses, it’ll be toote for sorry.”


    Paulina’s heart twisted with anxiety. “We’d better hurry.”


    Together, they raced inside—straight into the living room brimming with tension so thick that it was almost suffocating.


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