?Chapter 360:


    But Cole didn’t move. Instead, he pulled out his phone and fired off a message to Merlin. “The Craig family showed up at my family’s estate asking for help. What’s your move?”


    Merlin quickly replied, “I know how deep the ties run between the Craig family and the Evans family. If they approach you, turning them downpletely would put you in a tough spot. I’ve always meant to leave you a way to save face.”


    Cole texted. “Spare me the theatrics and get to the point. Are you actually set on taking down the Craig family, or is this just your way of pushing them to bend on a few issues?”


    Merlin responded, “I get that you’re caught in the middle, so I won’t tear the Craig family down right away. I’ve got just one condition. If they can meet it, I’ll let things rest for now. But if they fall short, they’ll have no one to me but themselves when Ie down hard.”


    Cole and Merlin exchanged messages across the glowing screen, their digital conversation unfolding without any attempt at concealment from Elliana. Every word they traded danced before her eyes as she maintained her position nestled against Cole’s side.


    When Merlin mentioned having just one condition, Elliana felt curiosity bloom within her chest like wildflowers after rain. She pressed her elbow gently into Cole’s ribs and whispered, “Go ahead and ask him what he’s demanding.”


    Cole would naturally inquire, though he hadn’t anticipated his wife’s impatience would eclipse his own burning need to know.


    A knowing smile curved Cole’s lips as he nced down at Elliana, whose head had found its familiar resting ce against his shoulder. His fingers moved across the keyboard with purpose. “What’s your condition?”


    Merlin’s response materialized on the screen like ink spreading through water. “I’ve known for a while that Boris was up to some shady stuff, but his scheming never concerned me until he decided to target someone who matters to me deeply. When the rest of the Craig n rallied around him to bury his wrongdoings, they transformed themselves into willing participants in his corruption. Now I’m bringing the entire house of cards crashing down around them.”


    Cole’s fingers flew across the keys with sharp precision. “Why wrap this in so much theatrical mystery? Your condition centers around Hailee, don’t they?”


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    Merlin’s confirmation arrived swiftly. “Absolutely right. Every ounce of my anger toward the Craig family flows from what they’ve done to Hailee.”


    Cole typed with growing intrigue. “Fair enough, so what’s your endgame here?”


    Merlin’s exnation unfolded across the screen like a battle n drawn in digital ink. “You must have caught wind of the spectacle at yesterday’s banquet. Norwood, Joslyn, and Trinity joined forces to smear Hailee’s reputation just to bury Boris’s misdeeds. I refused to let that slide, so I made them pay miserably.”


    As Elliana absorbed Merlin’s passionate deration, her internal perspective shifted like tectonic tes finding new alignment. Perhaps Merlin possessed more honor than she had previously credited him with. True, Merlin could manifest as an ice-cold troublemaker when the mood struck him, particrly where she was concerned, but when Hailee entered the equation, his loyalty burned with the intensity of forged steel.


    Cole typed. “Your reasoning resonates with mepletely, and you have my full support. So tell me, how do you intend to make this right for Hailee?”


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