?Chapter 317:


    Cole slouched into the cushions, letting Elliana shower him with kisses, his bad mood dissolving beneath her touch. Everyone else watched in mute disbelief, the whole scene feeling almost surreal.


    Just hours before, the air inside the vi had been so charged with Cole’s anger that nobody dared breathe. Now, a handful of sweet words from Elliana had himpletely tamed. Did he have any idea how whipped he looked?


    Of course, no one was bold enough to say it out loud. They just swallowed theirments and exchanged silent, exasperated nces. As the couple’s kiss deepened and lingered, Paulina and Barney slipped out as quickly as possible, eager to escape the awkwardness.


    Myles, Aron, and Hugh followed soon after, creeping away like prisoners released from a long interrogation. Ever since Cole’s marriage, daily life in the Evans family’s household had felt like a nonstop emotional thrill ride—anyone faint of heart wouldn’tst a week with this couple.


    Once they were safely outside, Hugh couldn’t hold back his frustration. He grumbled to Aron, “Honestly, I never imagined Mr. Evans could be this shameless. But Elliana? She’s on a whole different level.” Aron shot him a cold, warning look, clearly uninterested in engaging.


    Undeterred, Hugh turned to Myles, desperate for someone tomiserate with. “Myles, how long do you think Mr. Evans can keep acting this crazy?”


    Myles just red, his voice t and final. “Fuck off.”


    Shut down once more, Hugh’s head hung low as he made his way back to Aron, wordlessly sulking. His position beside Myles and Aron was sliding downhill, leaving himpletely exasperated.


    Back in the living room, Elliana finally calmed Cole down with a long, lingering kiss that left him breathless and dazed.


    Nestled in his embrace, she let her voice drift over him, gentle and coaxing. “Coley, Barney told me you skipped dinner. Why don’t you eat a little something now?”


    Cole eyed her with azy, indulgent smile. “Only if you’ll eat with me.” A mischievous light sparkled in her eyes. “Of course! I just had a quick catch-up with my friends. From here on out, you’ve got my full attention, my love.”


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    Her syrupy words sent his heart into freefall. He finally relented, agreeing to eat just to keep her close.


    Soon enough, they were seated across from each other in the dining room.


    Cole twirled his pasta with deliberate care, every move unhurried, while Elliana rested her chin in her palms and gazed at him like he was a work of art.


    “Somehow, a man eating pasta looks especially handsome,” she mused,yering on the ttery without missing a beat.


    Cole looked dangerously close to floating off his chair, so intoxicated by her sweetness that he could barely remember the days when she treated him with nothing but cold indifference. Back then, a singlepliment was rarer than gold. Now, he felt as if he were drowning in sugar, every sugary word melting thest of his resistance.


    All the while, the housekeepers stood at a polite distance, doing their best to ignore the couple’s affectionate disy.


    Meanwhile, Elliana’s thoughts kept circling back to Jody’s true identity.


    While Cole lounged on the couch, she quietly nned her next move. With a sh of inspiration, she ventured a cautious step forward. “Coley, how about I tag along to the Evans Group tomorrow?” she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sparkling with intent.


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