?Chapter 600:


    After several moments of silent consideration, Cole issued his final directive. “Include one additional item in tomorrow’s delivery.”


    Elsewhere, soon after Elliana ended her call with Cole, Heather appeared carrying a fresh te of pasta. This attempt proved wless—the dish radiated an enticing …


    Aroma, disyed beautiful presentation, and delivered perfectly bnced vors. Elliana’s hunger overwhelmed her, and she consumed every morsel with eagerness.


    Satisfied and bone-weary, Elliana escaped to her bedroom for much-needed rest, sleeping deeply until well past four in the afternoon. Following another substantial meal, she climbed back to the third-floorboratory and immersed herselfpletely in her research once more.


    Hours dissolved into nothingness around her. Nobody dared interrupt when she entered this state of intense concentration, and shebored continuously through the darkness until ten the following morning arrived.


    This marathon session finally delivered the breakthrough she’d been pursuing.


    Drawing from her mother’s detailed notes, her own extensive studies, and the analysis of Cole’s blood sample, three sleepless days had culminated in genuine progress atst. Pure exhration coursed through her veins. Sessy within her grasp now. She would finish her mother’s iplete work on Psychephrenia and bring it to fruition through her own determination.


    Elliana carefully set aside herboratory instruments and stretched luxuriously, savoring the deep satisfaction that flowed through her tired muscles. All she craved was a proper meal, restorative sleep, and then another night of productive research.


    However, when she opened the door, she discovered Jeff standing motionless in the hallway, staring at the door as though it had personally offended him. Kieran leaned casually against the nearby wall, watching Jeff with the focused intensity of a guard protecting precious treasure from a small, sulking burr.


    Elliana stared in bewilderment. She hadn’t encountered Jeff in several days, and today definitely wasn’t the weekend. “Jeff, shouldn’t you be attending school right now?” she asked.


    Jeff pouted. He met her gaze with stubborn silence, clearly in a sulk.


    Perplexed, Elliana shifted her attention to Kieran for exnation.


    Kieran released a low, amusedugh. “This little troublemaker ims your schedule has bepletely chaotic. He hasn’t caught sight of you during daylight or darkness,ined endlessly about withering away from longing, so he abandoned school entirely. Thought I’d tag along to make sure he didn’t storm in on your research.”


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    Elliana feltpletely overwhelmed by Jeff’s dramatic behavior. She nearlyunched into a stern lecture about the importance of education, but the words…


    Died before reaching her lips. The realization that he’d skipped school simply to see her again… That fierce, innocent devotion dissolved her irritation entirely. How could she possibly reprimand him for caring so deeply?


    At that moment, Jeff’s lower lip trembled, and tears gathered in his expressive eyes.


    Elliana immediately reached out to ruffle his soft hair. “Hey now—you see me perfectly well right here, can’t you?”


    Jeff released an indignant huff, still unsatisfied with her response. “I don’t understand why you’re constantly hiding inside thatboratory. I can’t find you anywhere, day or night. How am I supposed to know you’re not attempting something dangerous again?”


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