?Chapter 608:


    He’d just choked out the word “billion” when Elliana snatched the phone back. “Can wee in now?” she asked, expression t.


    The color drained from the bouncer’s face. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as his smugness evaporated. “Yes, ma’am! Of course, ma’am! Forgive me—I didn’t realize—right this way, please!”


    Elliana and Adah breezed past the bouncer, walking in like they owned the ce. Behind them, Jeff stuck his tongue out one more time for good measure, then turned on his heel with a victorious bounce.


    Left standing alone, the bouncer wiped his brow and muttered under his breath, “Note to self: never judge a book by its cover… Who’d have thought those two ugly women in in clothes were loaded?”


    Elliana and Adah didn’t spare the bouncer a second thought. Inside the club, they began searching for a quiet corner where they could sip drinks and catch up in peace. But before they could settle in, they ran into someone unexpected right in the lobby—An, Adah’s fiancé.


    An walked in, nked by Cole and Manley. The group—famously dubbed the “Four Golden Bachelors”—was one short today. Merlin was missing.


    Ever since Hailee became Merlin’s secretary, Elliana hadn’t seen her in person. But they still texted often. When the SAT scores came out, Hailee even messaged to say congrattions. These days, Hailee had been traveling with Merlin for work.


    Elliana hadn’t seen Cole in days. Now, seeing him again almost took her breath away. He gleamed like a mountain of gold—rich, polished, and out of reach. Just one nce was almost too much.


    Elliana noticed An and gave Adah a nudge. Adah followed her gaze. As soon as she spotted An, her face lit up with a sly grin. “Called it! There’s my fiancé, right on time.”


    Elliana smiled. “This is the Royal Club. Manley owns the ce. An and his group are here all the time.”


    Adah smirked. “Well, since fate has thrown us together, I say we spice things up a little.”


    The two women leaned in close, whispering and hatching their n.


    Meanwhile, Cole, An, and Manley hadn’t noticed them. They walked on, deep in conversation.


    Cole had recovered remarkably and no longer needed a wheelchair. He stood tall, every movement calm and sure, like he’d stepped out of a dream.


    An spoke, his voice heavy. “I’m sorry about what happened in Podgend. The second Myles called, we turned back. But the operatives from Phantom Mercenaries ambushed us. We were pinned down.”


    Cole waved it off. “Don’t me yourselves. Someone on my side leaked everything—routes, ns, personnel. They were prepared.”


    An asked, “Did you find out who?”


    “Lanny. Jason took care of him in Podgend,” Cole said tly.


    “Any clue who hired the Phantom Mercenaries?”


    Cole shook his head. “Nothing solid. Jason didn’t get anything out of Lanny before Lanny died.”


    Manley jumped in. “What matters is—you made it back. We were floored when we heard Death Thorn saved you. And now she’s sweet on Jason? Quite astonishing.”


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