?Chapter 435:


    She half-expected Cole to open up, but he just gave a tight, closed-mouth smile. “It’s nothing. Let’s get moving.”


    Without another word, Cole set off down the path, leaving Elliana to cast onest searching look at the mysterious serpent carving on the tree before hurrying to catch up.


    The mansion they had been staying at was a solid twenty-five miles away—far too far to hike on foot. Myles pulled out his phone and called for the security team, asking them toe pick everyone up.


    Thirty minutester, a car finally arrived to collect Cole and the rest of the group.


    Jason hade along, and as soon as he spotted Cole, he didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Cole, what were you all doing out here at this hour?”


    No response came from Cole. He simply climbed into the car, his face an unreadable mask.


    Elliana couldn’t shake her curiosity. Whatever that carving meant, it had clearly rattled Cole, as he’d barely acknowledged anyone since. Myles, Aron, and Hugh had also noticed the shift in Cole’s demeanor, but were just as baffled.


    Jason turned to Myles with a frown. “Do you know what’s eating at Cole?”


    Myles could only shrug. “I’m in the dark, too.”


    Jason’s concern deepened. “Then what exactly happenedst night?” There wasn’t much reason to keep it from Jason. The Evans family’s investigation of the enigmatic marriage registration between Cole and Elliana was practically an open secret. Myles exined, “We tracked down a lead about the marriage registration between Mr. and Mrs.”


    Evans, sost night we went to investigate.”


    Jason took it all in and then turned to gaze at Elliana.


    After a night spent drenched in rain and crawling through a muddy tunnel, Elliana looked even more disheveled than usual. Her wild wig and smeared makeup made her impossible to miss.


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    Jason shot Elliana a sharp nce, his expression turning disapproving. “Why did you insist oning in the first ce?”


    Jason had no idea about Elliana’s fighting skills. To him, she was just an ordinary woman in over her head, and it seemed reckless for Cole to bring her along to a dangerous ce like Podgend. He assumed she had probably pleaded her way onto the trip, forcing Cole’s hand. As far as he was concerned, she would only end up being a burden andplicating things.


    As these thoughts churned in his mind, Jason’s stare became even colder, his eyes practically dripping with disdain when he looked at Elliana. Sure, she had once contributed that Venacure for Jeff and even patched up his own injuries not long ago, but none of that changed his mind. He was still determined to see her out of the Evans family.


    Elliana, sharp as ever, saw right through Jason’s thoughts. Still, with her mind tangled in the sudden shift in Cole’s demeanor, she had no energy left for Jason’s silent scorn. Without so much as a nce at him, she slipped into the car and sat beside Cole.


    Cole kept his thoughts to himself, remaining silent all the way back. The drive was uneventful, the car filled with unspoken questions as they headed back to the mansion.


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