Elliana stayed silent, but her lips curved ever so slightly. As Milena herself, how could she be unaware of any collaboration with Ublento Medical University or that she had reached out to the university president?
While these thoughts buzzed in her head, Ruben turned to her with a lighthearted tone. “So, Elliana, now that the exams are out of the way, how do you think it went?”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Elliana answered, “I think I did alright.”
“Have you already picked out a university you like? What are you thinking of doing down the road?” Ruben pressed on.
Elliana found herself momentarily thrown off by the sudden questions. She had only sat through the exams to keep Ruben off her back. College? She hadn’t given it much thought. When it came to her future, she had been laying the groundwork since she was a kid. Most of those pieces were already in place. There wasn’t anything new she needed to figure out.
Still, one path remained untouched-the entertainment world. And lately, it had started to spark her curiosity. Most importantly, if she made a name for herself in this field, her mother, wherever she was, might catch a glimpse of her on screen and learn more about her. That silent hope was why she said yes to Paige’s offer to join The Heiress Graduation Trip.
Elliana paused for a moment and then said calmly, “I’ve decided to pursue acting. I want to try the entertainment industry.”
“What did you say?” Hearing this, the room seemed to tilt off balance. Jeff, never one to hold back his barbed tongue, sneered, “Seriously, Elliana? Are you delusional? You think someone with your average looks can survive in that industry? Aren’t you afraid of being criticized harshly?”
Irene let out a sharp little laugh. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Elliana, but the entertainment industry isn’t exactly welcoming to people who don’t fit the ideal. It’s full of stunners, and you… Well, you’re not there. Just think about what kind of embarrassment that could bring to the Evans family.”
“I’ll be honest, Jeff wasn’t exactly kind, but he’s not wrong. You don’t need a diploma to get into showbiz, sure. And if your scores tank, it might seem like a fallback. But let’s not pretend it’s easy. That industry worships beauty, and it’s brutal to anyone who doesn’t stand out. Maybe think it through before diving in,” Trinity interjected.
Her words implied that Elliana had already given up on higher education and was grasping at a last resort-completely unaware of the storm that world could bring.
Ruben’s face tightened with unease. “Elliana, did you even talk to Cole about this before deciding?” he asked carefully.
Right on cue, Cole walked in, and every head in the room swung his way.
Always quick to fan the flames, Jeff exclaimed, “Cole! Elliana just said she wants to break into the entertainment world!”
Instead of the outrage they had anticipated, Cole simply raised an eyebrow and smiled at Elliana. “If that’s what you want, go for it. Should I back you financially?”
A stunned silence gripped the room-no one had seen this coming. Cole’s sharp mind had dulled ever since he married a woman they all quietly labeled as plain.
Even Elliana didn’t see that answer coming. She gave a small smile and said, “Thanks, but I won’t need your money. I’ll figure it out on my own.”
There were plenty of eye rolls. As far as they were concerned, even with Cole’s wallet wide open, she’d still struggle to get noticed. And now she wanted to do it without any help?
Ruben looked like he was about to object, but Cole’s unexpected support shut his mouth before the words could leave.
A long pause settled over the room before Ruben rose to his feet and said, “Elliana, upstairs. We need to talk.”
Without saying a word, Elliana got up and followed him.
Everyone shot each other knowing looks. No one dared call Cole out for indulging his wife, but they were all convinced Ruben wouldn’t let things slide. They sat back, fully expecting Elliana to get a scolding upstairs
Elliana shared the same thoughts as those downstairs, assuming Ruben would either use threats or persuasive words to talk her out of joining the entertainment world.
But when she stepped into the study, Ruben’s behavior took an unexpected turn. He gestured her in with a cryptic wave. “Elliana, shut the door and have a seat.”
Thrown off by his tone, she hesitated, but eventually shut the door behind her, crossed the room, and lowered herself into the chair facing him.
Ruben straightened his posture, both hands loosely clasped over his cane, his expression unusually kind as he studied her. “I need to ask you something important, and I want the truth.”
“Alright. What is it?”
“Have you and Cole slept together?”
Elliana nearly swallowed wrong and coughed, caught off guard mid-breath. Was he seriously asking that? Of all things?
She gaped at him, too stunned to speak, and Ruben’s genial expression abruptly cooled into disapproval. “I’ll take that as a no, then.”
Elliana offered a strained smile, which Ruben immediately interpreted as confirmation.
He let out a sharp, irritated grunt. “I knew that rascal Cole was just putting on a damn performance for my sake! Back in the day, he acted like he was too good for everyone-never spared a second glance for any girl. Now he thinks he can play me for a fool? Not a chance. Don’t worry, Elliana. I’ll make sure everything goes according to plan. Whether he likes it or not, it’s going to happen.”
Elliana reached up and brushed the side of her nose, hesitant to admit that the problem wasn’t Cole-it was her own unwillingness.
He added, “But Elliana, you can’t expect me to do all the work. You’ve got to step up. Cole’s a proud, hard-headed guy. You’ll have to make him look past the surface and recognize what makes you special. That’s how you build a real bond… And once you give him a child, he won’t stray an inch.”
Elliana stayed silent, offering no opinion, only lowering her head as she listened.
After what felt like forever, Ruben finally ran out of things to say. “You got all that, right?”
Elliana dipped her head with practiced politeness. “I got it, Ruben.”
“Good girl.” A satisfied grin crossed Ruben’s face at her demeanor. “You can go now. I’ll handle everything tonight.”
Elliana didn’t know what he intended to “handle,” but anything was better than enduring more of his rambling. She stood quickly and slipped out before he could start again.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.