?Chapter 874:


    The instant he spoke, Elliana’s confusion gave way to sudden recognition. It was Jason. He was standing before her without his signature mask.


    Recognizing him only deepened her confusion. Her new identity as Lh had nothing to do with him—so why had he appeared here now? That look in his eyes, overflowing with affection, sent a wave of unease through her. How had “Lh” inspired such feelings from him?


    Before she could untangle her thoughts, Jason spoke once more, his smile faint but deliberate. “What’s the matter? Have you gotten so used to my mask that I’m a stranger without it?”


    Her bewilderment deepened. “Lh” was a disguise she had only recently adopted, yet Jason acted as though they shared years of history.


    Then, without warning, he introduced himself. “Jason Evans.” His expression turned yful. “Should I call you Death Thorn? I’m grateful you traveled all the way to Ublento just to find me. You wouldn’t believe how long I’ve hoped to see you.”


    “Death Thorn?” The name hit her like a cold shock. The discovery of her secret was thest thing she’d expected. How did he figure it out? And since Jason knew she was Death Thorn, could he have uncovered her real identity as Elliana?


    But that couldn’t be true. All he’d ever shown Elliana was contempt, doing everything possible to shut her out of the Evans family. He would never look at her with admiration, not in a million years. Then, realization swept over her—his longing was directed solely at Death Thorn, not Elliana.


    Her thoughts raced. Eliana mentally retraced every encounter she’d had with Jason as Death Thorn. The time in Podgend surfaced in her mind. Maybe that was when he’d caught a glimpse of her true face, and she’d tossed out that flirtyment without thinking. Clearly, he’d taken her words to heart. Now he believed Death Thorn loved him so profoundly that she’de all this way to Ublento for him.


    A quiet panic bubbled up. The urge to m her forehead against the nearest tree nearly overwhelmed her. It all started because she’d tried to annoy Cole, never once imagining that her little lie in Podgend woulde back like this. This had to stop. If things carried on like this, her life would spiral out of control. If she ever wanted a future with Cole, she couldn’t let Jason cling to this fantasy. It would be an absolute nightmare living under the same roof otherwise.


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    Having settled on her next move, Elliana let a yful grin brighten her face. “Jason!” she called out, her tone warm and inviting.


    A moment of confusion flickered across Jason’s features. The way she said his name, the way she looked at him—none of it matched the Death Thorn he thought he knew. Yet something tugged at the edge of his memory. He found himself questioning his own sanity. Was it really her?


    Possible that this captivating woman could remind him, even in passing, of the ugly Elliana he’d always dismissed?


    Elliana’s gaze sparkled with mischief as she broke the silence. “Why don’t youe inside?” she suggested, her voice light.


    Without waiting for his answer, she set off toward the front entrance of the vi. Her approach triggered the security system. The gates parted with a soft mechanical sigh, responding to her presence.


    Jason paused for the briefest moment and then pushed himself to move after her as she stepped indoors.


    Moments after the two vanished from sight, the quiet street weed another arrival. Taylor parked some distance away from Rosewood Vi, choosing the safety of a shadowy tree as his lookout, unwilling to risk being discovered.


    Seeing Jason stroll into the vi with Lh stoked a surge of anger so fierce that Taylor could barely contain it. He red at the entrance and muttered to himself, “Unbelievable. Jason tells me to stay away from Lh with someme excuse of a safety threat, but then he shows up, wooing her? The hypocrite! The snake!”


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