?Chapter 145:


    Javier smiled faintly. “Nothing. It’ste—you should head to bed.”


    Elyse remained where she was, biting her lip, looking as though she might break down at any moment. “Alexander, Jolie, and Jeffry all despise me. Javier, I have nowhere else to go. This is the only ce that feels safe, and now I’ve dragged you into this… I never meant to. I just wanted a ce to belong. To me, you all are my family.”


    Javier frowned. Why was she crying now? He was the one who had taken the punishment, yet she was the one in tears. He felt momentarily puzzled but still tried to console her. “You can stay as long as you need. No one will force you out.”


    Elyse shook her head, trembling as silent sobs wracked her body, tears spilling freely. “I know you won’t, but… if Vince finds out you sold his paintings just to make me happy, he’ll despise me too. And if that happens, he’ll throw me out, just like Alexander did.”


    Lowering her gaze, Elyse waspletely engrossed in her own act, failing to notice the shift in Javier’s expression.


    Javier pressed his lips together. She had yed the victim, letting the tears flow… There was only one thing left—getting him to stay silent about the gifts.


    Javier clung to the hope that Elyse hadn’te at this hour just to ensure his silence.


    However, the next second, Elyse lifted her tear-filled eyes and looked at him. “Javier, please don’t tell Vince about the gifts you gave me. I’m scared he’ll get the wrong idea. You’re the only cousin I trust. You’ve always been the most understanding one. Please, help me this one time.”


    Javier’s heart sank. Everything Elena had predicted about Elyse’s reactions turned out to be urate.


    Javier stared at Elyse with an inscrutable expression, suddenly at a loss for words.


    In Elyse’s mind, Javier had always been the easiest to manipte. She wiped away her tears, thoroughly satisfied with her acting skills. Ever the dutiful fool, he would undoubtedly bear the burden of me for her.


    Yet, Javier remained unnervingly silent.


    Only then did Elyse realize something was amiss. She fixed her gaze on him, her voice tinged with uncertainty and unease. “Javier, why aren’t you saying anything? Aren’t you willing to help me?” Deep down, she doubted he would refuse. She had had him wrapped around her little finger since childhood. Whenever she manipted him with a few carefully chosen words, he would rush to her aid without hesitation. This time should be no different.


    Elyse’s eyes darkened, while her face contorted into a mock heartbroken expression. “It’s okay. It was too much to ask. You’ve been trying to help me. I’m truly grateful. Without you, I wouldn’t have felt even this small measure of warmth. If… if Vince really casts me out, I’ll never forget your kindness.”


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    Elyse delivered her performance with practiced precision. Typically, Javier would have immediately rushed forward tofort her. But now, an inexplicable unease settled in his heart. As he observed Elyse, he couldn’t shake the feeling that her entire demeanor was an borate act.


    Javier lowered his gaze, his knees aching from prolonged kneeling, the wounds on his back burning with intense pain. In all his years, his father had never been this severe with him.


    Truth be told, Javier had hesitated about stealing the paintings. Yet, Elyse had been persistently weeping to him, leaving him uncertain how tofort her. His attempts to console her went unchecked, and the ongoing list of prized jewelry he had gifted her had maxed out his credit cards.


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