Raylan faltered, momentarily stunned by Lenard’s cutting retort. “Perhaps she’s not entirely inconsequential. But must the Hudson heir settle for someone so-so aesthetically challenged? You’re condemning me to wake beside her every morning. Have you considered my feelings in this arrangement?”
Witnessing Raylan’s anguish, Kristen intervened swiftly. “Raylan’s a catch. Forcing him to bind with Elliana borders on cruelty. If you value her so highly, we could show care without forcing matrimony. Why insist she become his wife?” Perceiving Lenard’s unwavering resolve, she pressed further. “Besides, Elliana now answers to ‘Mrs. Evans.’ Wouldn’t Raylan’s pursuit antagonize Cole unnecessarily?”
“I’ve deliberated on that complication,” Lenard replied with glacial composure. “Cole harbors no affection for Elliana. Word is, he’s evaded their marital obligations by abandoning their home. He’d likely remain indifferent to Raylan’s advances and might even welcome such intervention.”
Lenard lifted his gaze meaningfully toward Raylan. “I comprehend your position, Raylan. I too experienced youth’s folly, chasing pretty faces. But as the heir, the Hudson family’s interest must supersede desire. Sometimes duty eclipses personal preference. Understood? If family obligation proves too burdensome to you, relinquish the inheritance. Pursue your carefree existence and wed some vapid beauty devoid of intellect as you wish. I won’t impede you.”
Raylan lapsed into contemplative silence, absorbing Lenard’s weighted words. Though the logic proved irrefutable, the implementation remained daunting. His visceral aversion to Elliana’s appearance created an almost insurmountable barrier.
“Grandpa, even acknowledging Elliana’s business acumen, her fashion and jewelry expertise offer minimal benefit to our interests. Why mandate this particular union?” Raylan pressed, searching desperately for escape.
Lenard, exhausted by fruitless debate, pivoted toward Quentin. “Would you wed Elliana for the family’s advancement, Quentin?”
Raylan tensed visibly, stealing a glance at his uncle. He anticipated similar resistance from Quentin-surely no man, especially one of Quentin’s caliber, would willingly bind himself to someone as unattractive as Elliana.
But Quentin shattered Raylan’s assumptions, offering a serene smile. “Dad, your experience surpasses mine immeasurably. Since you perceive exceptional qualities in Elliana, I defer to your judgment. I would marry her without hesitation.”
Raylan’s mouth fell open in naked astonishment.
Kristen, seething with indignation, emitted a bitter laugh. “Quentin, your transparent desperation to usurp Raylan’s position drives you to such obvious lies? No way you’re cool spending your nights with that ugly woman!”
Quentin’s smile remained undisturbed, his gaze profound and unwavering. “You possess no insight into my thoughts. Speculation serves no purpose.”
“You!” Kristen felt like she’d swung and missed, her anger fizzling into frustration.
After a calculated pause, Kristen forced an artificial smile and addressed Raylan, “Your grandfather has a point. The heir cannot prioritize personal desires. Since he recognizes value in Elliana, exceptional qualities must exist. Marry her.”
“Mom, you’re pushing me too?” Raylan’s voice emerged as a pained groan. “Didn’t you consistently proclaim that only a ravishing, accomplished socialite deserved my hand?”
Kristen, bereft of alternatives, drew Raylan aside, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Don’t you understand what’s at stake? Refuse Elliana, and Quentin claims the heir position. Marry her now, and you can always ditch her later when the time’s right.” Kristen’s words hit home for Raylan.
“Fine.” Raylan conceded with a curt nod.
Raylan pivoted to face Lenard. “Grandpa, I shall reclaim Elliana and make her my bride.”
“Good. I’ll be monitoring your approach closely,” Lenard declared, his tone brooking no compromise.
Meanwhile, Elliana, oblivious to the machinations unfolding within the Hudson dynasty, slumbered peacefully in her luxurious bedroom. As dawn broke, Elliana was violently thrust from her slumber by the heart-wrenching sound of uncontrollable sobbing..
Elliana had gone to bed far too late, so waking up at the crack of dawn instantly soured her mood. All she wanted was to stay cocooned in her blankets. However, the crying echoing from downstairs was too unsettling to ignore. It kept escalating in volume until her head throbbed, forcing her to snap out of her grogginess.
As she focused on the noise, it became clear-it was Jeff wailing like a maniac.
Elliana rolled her eyes in pure irritation. Whatever emotional mess Jeff was stuck in, she couldn’t have cared less. Trouble or not, she had no intention of stepping in.
Yet, the relentless noise completely shattered any hope of falling back asleep. With a heavy sigh, she gave in, reached for her phone, and began scrolling through the latest headlines.
The night before, she had blown the lid off Paige and Luciano’s shady antics, and she couldn’t wait to see the digital world explode over it. But to Elliana’s absolute disbelief, the internet was a ghost town. There was nothing-no buzz, no gossip about Luciano’s sketchy past or Paige’s sneaky cheating during the competition. The trending clips and stream highlights had vanished. Not a single media outlet had picked it up.
Without thinking, Elliana bolted upright. Something was definitely off. The chaos that erupted last night had lit up the livestream, and fans were going wild. There was no way things would go radio silent like this by morning. Someone had clearly worked overtime to erase every shred of Paige’s scandal and muzzle the press. Whoever pulled it off had strong influence.
A sly grin tugged at Elliana’s lips as one name popped into her mind-Merritt.
Being Paige’s godfather, Merritt had his hands dirty too, rigging the entire competition alongside Luciano. Most likely, he had flexed his power to cleanse the internet and keep the media under control.
Right now, no one could find a single trace of Elliana’s Rosa persona online, and any evidence tying Paige to her scandals had vanished just as thoroughly. It was as if the entire showdown had been erased from existence.
To the art communities, Paige had become a running gag. Yet, to her online followers, she was still wrapped in digital perfection.
With a biting laugh, Elliana flung her phone aside and rose with deliberate ease, heading toward her clothes. Nothing could stop her from exposing Paige’s meltdown from the night before-one post, and it would be all over. Still, she wasn’t…
Elliana wasn’t ready to end the game just yet. Making Paige and Kiara flinch with every move was far more satisfying than delivering a single knockout.
Rather than ending their little charade, Elliana watched them scramble to control the narrative. Every misstep they made gave her another reason to strike-and she never missed.
Dressed in her usual slapped-together outfit, Elliana shuffled into the bathroom to rinse off the night and smear on her grotesque version of makeup.
Annoyingly, the weeping from downstairs had only intensified, echoing through the walls like some private apocalypse was unfolding. Ignoring it was no longer an option. Elliana was irritated but intrigued. Was Jeff seriously falling apart down there, or did something worse happen?
Dragging her feet, she nudged her door open, ready to investigate the mess herself.
Paulina was waiting outside, clearly expecting her.
“Good morning, Mrs. Evans,” Paulina said, her voice sweet and polished like a hotel concierge. Offering her a crooked smile, Elliana asked, “Any reason it sounds like someone’s dying downstairs?”
“They brought Miss Henderson’s body over this morning. The Hendersons are falling apart. Now they’re blaming Jeff, saying he’s responsible and should cover everything,” Paulina explained, her tone caught between pity and exasperation.
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.