?Chapter 1097:


    Javier, wearing the kind of smile that never faded, looked like he couldn’t be prouder. “Absolutely! Elena isn’t just gorgeous. She’s good at everything!”


    While they kept the jokes and praiseing, Elena stayed half-focused, tapping out replies to Wesley. A new message popped up from him, saying, “I miss you. What are you doing right now?”


    Elena snapped a photo of the folding table, the street food, and the beer bottles, then hit send. She typed, “Grabbing ate-night snack.” It didn’t take long for his next message tond: “Who are you with?”


    She answered honestly, “A group of college guys.”


    In the blink of an eye, a video call request lit up her screen. She got to her feet and stepped away from the table, heading toward a quieter spot before picking up.


    When the call connected, Wesley’s sharp features came into view, his gaze steady as he checked out the scene behind her. His voice was calm, but there was a weight in his words: “If you wanted ate-night snack, why didn’t you let me know?”


    Elena lifted a brow and smirked. “I never asked for your permission before, either.”


    Wesley’s cheek twitched as he pressed his tongue against it, his eyes turning serious. “That was before. Things aren’t the same anymore. You should remember you’re my girlfriend now.”


    Amused by how quickly he got riled up, Elena leaned into the moment. “So having a boyfriend means I’ve got to start changing how I live? Maybe I need to give this whole rtionship a second thought.”


    Wesley’s voice came through the phone, steady and low. “Take that back.”


    Could he really be taking this so seriously? Elena curved her lips into a sly grin. “And if I don’t?”


    Wesley’s jaw tightened. “You’ll see soon enough.”


    Once the call ended, Elena took care of the bill, gave Javier a friendly wave, and left.


    With Christmas just around the corner, the seemed to buzz with holiday spirit. Ornaments dangled from every street tree, and whenever the chilly breeze swept through, their shadows moved and mingled across the pavement.


    Elena tugged her coat closer to her body. Skipping the taxi ride, she chose to take her time and walk down the sidewalk.


    ???€?? ￠?αt?εяs 1n ga?n?νεl?.???


    Not long after, a car slid to a stop ahead of her. A window lowered, and Wesley’s face came into view.


    His arrival surprised her. She hadn’t thought he would get here so quickly. The moment the car door swung open, Elena slipped inside as though she had done it a hundred times before.


    Wesley had chosen to drive himself this evening.


    Seat belt clicked into ce, Elena barely had a moment before Wesley pressed the elerator andunched them onto the road.


    There was no return to Hillside Manor tonight. Instead, Wesley guided the car along a winding, empty stretch where no one would see them. When they finally came to a halt, he wasted no time unfastening his seat belt and leaning in close to her.


    “Thinking of a breakup, huh?” Wesley’s frustration was clear in his tone.


    Sinking back into the seat, Elena kept herposure, though a yful spark danced in her eyes as she met his gaze.


    That teasing glint was something Wesley always admired, but her earlier words lingered and left a sting. Winning her over had taken so much effort, and now she spoke of the possibility of breaking up as if it meant nothing.


    Wesley imed her mouth in a kiss that left no room for argument. “If you want to break up, it’ll only happen over my dead body.”


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