?Chapter 606:


    “Alright,” Adah said. “Heather told me you’ve been keeping strange hourstely, staying in theb every night. What are you up to?”


    Elliana’s answer was short. “I can’t say yet.”


    Adah quickly changed the topic. “Are you free now? Want to hit up Royal Club and unwind a bit?”


    A softugh escaped Elliana. “I’ve got time. Just warning you—your fiancé An hangs out there a lot.”


    Adah only grinned. “Perfect. Bumping into him will just make the night more interesting!”


    Elliana slid off her bed, grabbing her coat. “Let’s go then. I actually need to talk to you face-to-face about something.”


    Elliana hastily reapplied her disguise, smoothing the wig into ce and dabbing on the clownish makeup once more. When she opened the door, she nearly jumped—Jeff was standing right there on the threshold as if summoned. “Jeff?” she blinked. “What are you doing here?”


    Before Jeff could sputter a reply, Kieran’s voice floated in from nearby, full of dry amusement. “He was afraid you’d vanish back into yourb the moment you woke up. Thought if he didn’t stake out your door, he wouldn’t see you at all today.”


    Elliana shifted her gaze to Jeff. “Did you finish your homework?”


    Jeff’s eyes flicked left, then right—anywhere but at her. “Y-yeah… it’s done,” he muttered.


    His guilty face said otherwise. Elliana didn’t bother pointing it out. Instead, she gave him a long, pointed look. It was clear she knew. More than anything, it confirmed what she’d already been thinking: Jeff needed something—anything—to anchor him. A purpose, a passion, even a hobby. Otherwise, he’d drift, wasting his potential one idle day at a time.


    “You heading out?” Jeff asked suddenly.


    “Yeah,” Elliana said, grabbing her bag. “Meeting a friend.”


    “Then I’ming with you!” he blurted, eyes wide with hope.


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    Elliana frowned, eyeing him skeptically. “Why would you tag along when I’m meeting a friend?”


    “I promise I’ll be quiet,” Jeff said quickly, desperation creeping into his tone. “I’ll just sit nearby. I won’t say a word, I swear.”


    She raised a skeptical brow. “What if I’m robbing a bank? You tagging along for that too?”


    “I can be the lookout!” Jeff offered with total sincerity.


    Elliana let out a dryugh. “And if I’m murdering someone?”


    “I’ll hand you the knife,” he said, puffing his chest out with absurd pride. “I’m serious. Wherever you go, I go. You can’t get rid of me.”


    Elliana stared at him, momentarily speechless. He had, without hesitation, made her the sun around which his entire world revolved. That kind of blind loyalty should’ve been annoying—but instead, it tugged at something deep inside her. She


    couldn’t bring herself to turn him away. Notpletely. With a weary sigh, she gave in. “Fine. Let’s go.”


    Jeff beamed, practically bouncing at her side as they headed out.


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