?Chapter 364:


    Jason turned sharply, bewildered. “What’s wrong with you? She and Cole are having a private moment in the car.”


    Lance shrugged. “If Jeff can wait, why can’t I?”


    Jason didn’t hold back. “Aren’t you the one always bragging about your 130 IQ and tech genius stuff? So why are you acting like a child now? Jeff’s eight. What’s your excuse?”


    Lance’s face turned red.


    Jason wasn’t finished. He smirked. “Didn’t Cole snap at you just now when you tried to ride in his car? He doesn’t want you near his wife. Are you really trying your luck again?”


    “Cole’s not that petty,” Lance muttered weakly.


    At that moment, Cole stepped out of the car and helped Elliana down.


    “Elliana!” Jeff’s eyes sparkled. He ran straight to her, grinning from ear to ear.


    Before Elliana could say a word, Cole’s face darkened. “Why are you always everywhere? Get lost!” he barked.


    Jeff’s smile faltered. He lowered his head, hugged Darling tighter, and slowly walked back to the vi.


    Lance shot a nce at Jeff, who was retreating with his head lowered like a scolded dog. Then, his eyes flicked to Cole, whose jaw was clenched in fury. Without a word, Lance turned and quietly followed Jeff into the vi.


    Elliana stood silently, gazing up at the sky. The conflicts between the Evans cousins were family matters, and she had no ce to intervene.


    Jason smirked and turned to Cole. “Jeff’s always been a bit of a wild card, but you used to cut him some ck. Now you raised your voice at him. What did he do to tick you off so bad?”


    Cole’s face remained impassive as he replied, “Good thing you’re back, Jason. Maybe you can straighten Jeff out. That kid is barely out of the sandbox and already dreaming of stealing my wife a decade from now. Time he snapped out of that delusion.”


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    With that, Cole took Elliana’s hand with cool finality and strode off toward the vi.


    Jason stood there for a moment, stunned, before letting out a dry, incredulousugh. Had Jeff lost it?


    The thought of Jeff going toe-to-toe with Cole for Elliana—ten years from now or not—wasughable. And truth be told, Jason couldn’t even understand the appeal. Elliana, to him, was no beauty.


    Jason could only wonder what kind of disaster Jeff would grow into, given that Jeff’s taste already seemed tragically misguided at the tender age of eight.


    But then Jason hesitated. Maybe he was being too harsh. Lance was three years older than Elliana, and even he looked like he’d take a bullet for her. What was it about Elliana? Almost every Evans male seemed to be tripping over himself for her.


    Jason gave up trying to figure it out and headed for the vi, shaking his head.


    Inside the vi’s dimly lit living room, Ruben sat slouched in the main armchair, his grip tightening around his cane like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Worry weighed heavily on his face, but he remained silent.


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