And Cole hadn’t even touched lunch. Now, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, his mood had turned even darker.
Outside the office, Hugh held up three fingers, whispering to Aron.
“That makes three hundred ‘cruel women’ today.”
Aron shot Hugh a scowl. “And whose fault is that?”
Hugh let out a sheepish sigh, his shoulders drooping with the weight of regret. How he wished he hadn’t said those flippant words to Elliana. He never meant for things to go this far. Sure, he’d teased Elliana a little. Maybe even exaggerated a few things. But Elliana’s rejection of Cole’s desire for intimacy? Cole’s full-blown heartbreak? The CEO of the Evans Group turned into a brooding, love-scorned wreck? That hadn’t been part of the plan.
With a groan, Hugh ruffled his hair and whispered a prayer to every deity he could remember, hoping Cole would miraculously recover before he ended up demoted to parking lot supervisor-or worse.
Inside the office, Myles kept his head down. He moved quietly to the trash can, retrieved the crumpled document, and flattened it with slow, reverent care. He didn’t dare speak. Not after the last time he’d tried to offer Cole advice and had nearly been turned to stone by a single glare. Today, Cole was a live wire-volatile, unpredictable, and emotionally radioactive. The best move? Complete silence.
With the paper in hand, Myles cast a glance at Cole, who sat staring at his computer screen, unmoved, unspeaking. Myles gave a subtle bow and turned to leave.
Myles had barely pivoted when Cole’s voice cut through the silence.
“What is she doing?”
There was no need to ask who “she” was.
A shiver crawled down Myles’ spine.
All morning, Elliana’s name had been a forbidden word. Anyone reckless enough to mention her in Cole’s presence had paid dearly. Her name was a spark near dry kindling-dangerous and unpredictable. And yet now, Cole was the one asking about her.
“Mrs. Evans joined a reality show called The Heiress Graduation Trip,” Myles replied dutifully, turning back toward Cole. “She left early this morning to begin filming. It’s being streamed live as we speak.”
Cole’s fingers froze over the keyboard. He looked up, a shadow of disbelief flickering in his eyes as he stared at Myles.
Wordlessly, Myles pulled out his phone, launched the livestream, and placed it on the desk in front of Cole.
Cole glanced down. His expression darkened. “Cruel woman,” he grumbled.
Cole was genuinely pissed. So, Elliana had really done it-stepped into the entertainment world without so much as a backward glance. She had once expressed interest in him, watched him drink that spiked soup, and led him on, only to rip the ground from under him with a simple confession: she didn’t like him and had no intention of being his wife. Cruel. Heartless. Utterly cold.
Last night, he’d stormed out of their room in fury, resorting to drenching himself in icy water throughout the night to deal with the burning sensation the aphrodisiac had caused. And where was she now? On camera, smiling, as though none of it mattered. As though he had never mattered. So be it. If she wanted to brave the world alone, let her. He was curious to see how far she could go without his protection.
Myles watched silently, his eyes fixed on Cole’s shifting expressions-rage, disbelief, wounded pride. It was like watching time rewind. The seventeen-year-old version of Cole was volatile, entitled, and emotionally raw.
Elliana hadn’t just broken Cole’s heart. She had unmade him. She wasn’t an ordinary woman. She was an enchantress-one who could unravel years of maturity with a single choice.
Then, suddenly, a scream rang out from the livestream
A theatrical gasp tore through the broadcast room. It came from one of the staff stationed near Luciano, seemingly overwhelmed by the sight of Paige’s painting on display. “My goodness! Miss Jones, your painting is absolutely stunning. You’re an extraordinary talent!”
As per the plan and previous rehearsal, one compliment led to another, and soon the room rippled with enthusiastic voices, each more eager than the last to sing Paige’s praises.
Haley gave a subtle nod, prompting the crew to zoom in, capturing every elegant detail of Paige’s artwork.
As the camera panned back, Paige stood surrounded by admirers, her smile radiant and warm. “Everyone here holds deep experience in art. I’d be grateful for any advice you might share.”
One chimed in, reciting the given lines, “Miss Jones, someone with your talent hardly needs pointers from the rest of us. Only Mr. Scott could take you to the next level.”
Luciano’s face lit up with satisfaction at the praise, his eyes fixed on Paige’s artwork while he nodded in approval. “Your technique shows a strong foundation. With a little direction, you’ll be able to make a real breakthrough and rise to an entirely new level.”
Right on cue with the show’s planned segment, Paige stepped forward and smiled. “Ever since I first picked up a paintbrush, my greatest dream has been to become your protege, Mr. Scott. Do you think I might be lucky enough to earn your favor today?”
“Ha-ha…” Adopting a masterly composed facade, Luciano gave her a wide, approving grin. “Paige, I’ve appreciated your work for a while now, and I’ve been meaning to take you under my wing. I just wasn’t sure you’d say yes.”
“Thank you so much for the chance, Mr. Scott!” Paige said as she gave a deep, grateful bow. “I’m honestly over the moon. You’re a legend, and getting the opportunity to learn from you is more than I ever imagined.”
The crowd erupted into applause, repeating the lines written in the planned script.
“Big congratulations to Mr. Scott! With a protege like Miss Jones, you two are bound to make waves in the art world!”
“This is a huge moment for Ublento’s art scene! Mr. Scott taking on another prodigy definitely calls for a proper mentorship ceremony.”
“I’ve got it covered. I’ll handle the setup right away so everything wraps up before the Starry Oil Painting Competition tonight.”
Luciano had always been fond of praise and spectacle. Over time, he’d surrounded himself with people who knew just how to stroke his ego, and their over-the-top compliments only made him more full of himself.
In truth, the mentorship ceremony was a carefully choreographed segment prepared by the program team. The fawning crowd was just part of the performance, staged for the benefit of the live viewers. None of the viewers watching from home had any idea they were being strung along by a chorus of well-rehearsed fakes.
“Can you believe it? Mr. Scott actually took Paige as his protege. She’s set for life in the art world now!”
“No matter where Paige goes, she always stands out. She’s just got that spark!”
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.