?Chapter 698:


    “Our rtionship?” Elena asked, her brow furrowed. Was there really anything to discuss? They hadn’t gotten intimate that day.


    Elena shrugged,pletely uninterested. “Is there something we actually need to talk about?”


    Wesley almostughed out of sheer frustration. Her totalck of interest was incredibly irritating. He loosened the top button of his shirt and stretched his neck slightly. “Seriously? There’s nothing you want to say to me?”


    Say what? Elena’s brows furrowed as she nced down. There was nothing she wanted to say to him.


    Her blunt indifference made Wesley clench his jaw in annoyance. So, in her mind, was he just someone she used?


    Wesley stood up and walked over to Elena. Hisrge frame loomed over her, trapping her between his body and the back of her chair. As he leaned closer, Elena caught the scent of champagne mixed with a hint of cedar from his cologne.


    For a moment, Elena was speechless. Wesley tilted her chin up, his eyes locking onto hers. “Elena, do you ever even consider how I feel about all this?”


    Elena turned her head away, pulling free from his touch. “Wesley, I’ve made my stance clear. I won’t make major life decisions based on one ident.”


    Elena wasn’t stupid. Wesley had dropped enough hints for her to figure out what he wanted, even if she was a bit slow on the uptake at first. But she was only going to be with someone she actually liked, not just because of some circumstance. If Wesley could actually make her enjoy being intimate with him, maybe she’d think about it. But not like this, where one mistake meant they were suddenly obligated to be a couple.


    Her eyes were serious, and Wesley’s smile vanished. She still wasn’t willing to be with him.


    Wesley wasn’t the type to force himself on anyone. He lowered his long eyshes, hiding the sh of annoyance in his eyes.


    The top floor had huge floor-to-ceiling windows that gave an amazing view of the at night—the city lights twinkling and breaking up the darkness.


    The windows kept out all the noise and weather, making them feelpletely separate from the outside world.


    Elena raised her hand and gently pushed him away. “Thanks for the food and all, Wesley. It’s gettingte. I should probably head out.”


    “Hold on.” Wesley suddenly pulled a ne out of his suit pocket.


    “I won’t force you,” he said, unfastening the ne. “But there’s one thing I need you to agree to: wear this.”


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    The ne was a gold chain with a blue gemstone hanging from it, its craftsmanship and design exuding a strong sense of history. The blue sapphire, polished by time, hadn’t lost its shine—instead, it looked even purer.


    Elena had seen her share of expensive jewels, but she’d never seen a sapphire that glowed like this one. It was as beautiful as the deep sea—calm and peaceful. It had to be worth a fortune.


    Elena didn’t want to ept such a pricey gift, but Wesley went ahead and fastened it around her neck.


    The sapphire looked perfect against her slender neck and smooth skin. A small smile finally touched Wesley’s eyes again. What he didn’t tell her was that this ne was a family heirloom, passed down for generations in the Spencer family.


    The ne was a family heirloom, passed down for generations in the Spencer family, and only given to the woman he was going to marry. In his mind, she was now bound to him.


    With the ne around her neck, Elena headed back to Hillside Manor, only to run into Karen and Evelyn along the way. Karen and Evelyn, who usually couldn’t stand each other, were surprisingly together.


    Karen disliked Evelyn, but since Evelyn was about to marry Jeffry, Karen figured Evelyn might have some dirt on the Harper family. Curious about Elena’s scandal, Karen pushed aside her feelings and started chatting with her.


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