?Chapter 778:


    Evelyn was convinced that Elena was the root of the problem. If Elena weren’t interfering, why would Jeffry be so distant?


    s! Evelyn had conveniently forgotten that her previous visits to the Harper Group were all under the convenient excuse of work, and Jeffry had only entertained her presence because of business. The marriage certificate she now held had less to do with love and more with timing. She’d wittingly jumped at the chance when Harper Group was reeling under Graham’s attack, using the chaos to her advantage.


    Barely a pause passed before Evelyn made up her mind. “You mentioned getting her married, Mom. What’s the n?” she asked, frustration flickering across her face. It was clear that with the way the Harper family doted on Elena, no one was going to force her into anything, let alone marriage.


    A smirk curved across Aria’s lips. “There’s nothingplicated about it. Just introduce her to someone. Girls her age fall fast. Once she’s in love, she’ll run to the altar on her own.”


    That sparked Evelyn’s curiosity. “Do you already have someone in mind?”


    With confidence practically radiating off her, Aria answered, “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve got the right man picked out. I’ll talk to your mother-inw about it during lunch tomorrow.”


    The thought of Elena tying the knot lit a fire in Evelyn’s chest. As long as Elena remained single and under the same roof, Jeffry and his family would always put her on a pedestal.


    In Evelyn’s mind, marriage was just a matter of time for Elena. Jolie was obviously blind to how her affection for Elena only worsened things. She figured once Elena became someone else’s responsibility, she would be the one permanently sharing a roof—and a future—with Jolie. If Jolie had any wisdom, treating her better than Elena was a wise choice. That way, when old age came knocking, Jolie would be well looked after.


    By noon the following day, the Harper family gathered for a lunch reservation at the Peak Hotel. Even Jeffry, who had been missing in action for several days, made an appearance.


    Due to the size of the family, one vehicle wouldn’t cut it. Alexander and Jolie rode in one car, while the rest took another.


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    The moment the second car arrived, Evelyn wasted no time. She swung open the passenger side and slipped in beside Jeffry.


    In contrast, Elena found herself in the backseat between Ellis and Louis. Nestled between her two brothers, Elena remained quiet while Ellis stayed mostly silent. Louis, however, kept the conversation flowing, unknowingly cutting off every chance Evelyn had to speak with Jeffry. Each passing moment chipped away at Evelyn’s patience, and just as her frustration began to boil over, they pulled into the Peak Hotel driveway.


    Having arrived early, Jerry and Aria were already seated inside the reserved room. With the Harpers now present, the waitstaff began serving the food without dy.


    While they settled into the meal, Elena noticed something unsettling—Aria kept casting lingering nces her way. The intensity of that gaze made her knit her brows in difort. Why Aria seemed more focused on her than on Evelyn was utterly baffling. They barely even knew each other.


    Meanwhile, Jerry and Alexander kept things cordial as they exchanged greetings and naturally shifted into discussing their joint project.


    Taking advantage of the pause, Aria turned to Jolie with a charming smile. “Jolie, Elena really takes after you—such a stunning young woman.”


    Thatment caught Jolie off guard. Aria’s tone was oddly sweet, a far cry from the woman who had once scolded Elena andbeled her disrespectful. It made no sense. Was this some half-hearted attempt to smooth things over after the wedding dress incident?


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