?Chapter 319:


    Elliana made zero effort to tone herself down. She strutted out in her trademark entric style—wild curls bouncing, temporary tattoos scattered across her cheeks, and a head-to-toe ck ensemble that radiated bold defiance. Next to her, Cole looked every inch the sophisticated CEO—sleek, polished, and devastatingly handsome.


    A sleek Rolls-Royce came to a smooth stop at the entrance of the Evans Group headquarters. Elliana emerged from the luxury vehicle with Cole at her side, and together, they made their way straight to the executive elevator, heading up to the highest floor without pause. Upon stepping into the CEO’s suite, the pair vanished from sight, choosing to keep their presence under wraps for the rest of the day.


    Even their attempt at secrecy couldn’t keep the rumor mill quiet for long.


    Hardly had five minutes passed before talk of Elliana swept through the office like wildfire.


    Elliana’s reputation preceded her at the Evans Group. Even the janitors whispered stories about Cole’s “ugly” wife.


    For ages, gossip painted Cole as desperate to avoid Elliana, iming he had even abandoned the family mansion for his bachelor pad at Regal Grove. No one had imagined he would openly escort Elliana to work.


    Reception staff were buzzing—apparently, Cole had marched in with Elliana’s hand in his, strolling across the marble lobby. During that brief walk, they radiated such affection as if the office had been transported into a romantic film, leaving witnesses wide-eyed and speechless.


    Thepany was thrown for a loop. Every nasty rumor was suddenly upended. Cole treated Elliana as if she were the center of his universe. Realization hit, and the news sent shockwaves from floor to floor. Most employees never pictured their charming, sophisticated CEO falling for someone considered ugly by their standards.


    The heartbreak spread fast among women in the building who’d invested countless hours and a small fortune on beauty regimens, hoping to catch Cole’s attention. Those who had spent fortunes on facials, high-end clothes, and perfect makeup—braving rain and sun just to catch Cole’s eye—felt their dreams shatter in a single morning. All that effort, wasted, now that Cole clearly preferred “ugly” women. If only they’d known, they wouldn’t have emptied their wallets on beauty routines.


    In less than thirty minutes after Elliana’s arrival, a new craze took hold among Cole’s admirers. Those female staff who had been desperate to impress Cole suddenly ditched their cosmetics, parading their bare faces in solidarity with Elliana. Bathrooms were packed as employees scrubbed awayyers of makeup. Some went a step further, dusting on mismatched colors or even streaks of dirt, trying to imitate what they believed was Elliana’s signature look.


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    Before long, every corner of thepany’s towering 68 floors was alive with women showing off exaggerated ugly appearances, transforming the corporate headquarters into an unpredictable spectacle.


    No one was quicker on the uptake than Myles, Cole’s right hand.


    Hearing the wild reports, he could only smirk, caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement.


    Aron and Hugh, standing nearby, listened as the entire episode unfolded.


    Hugh couldn’t contain augh. “Have those women lost all sense?”


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