Elliana had to clamp her teeth on her lower lip to keep from laughing aloud. The anticipation of the chaos to come was delicious.

Sitting beside Elliana, Jeff stared at Adah with his jaw practically unhinged. This woman was unreal. One second, she was a savage force of nature, and the next, she was this clumsy peasant. Who was she trying to fool?

Elliana caught his gaping expression, leveled him with a look, and gave the top of his bald head a playful tap.

“Stay in your lane, kid,” she said coolly. “One more word, and you’re out.”

Jeff jerked his head away, posture straightening as he feigned total disinterest, lips sealed like a model student.

Meanwhile, Manley, grinning like a devil with a plan, hooked an arm around Allan and started dragging him forward.

“Well? What are you standing around for? Your fiancée’s right there! Go say hi!”

Allan clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. But there was no avoiding this absurd engagement forever. With a resigned grunt, he let Manley haul…

him forward like a reluctant prisoner marching to his doom. Cole trailed behind them, not out of interest in Allan’s impending humiliation, but because of Elliana.

Without sparing the others a glance, Cole stepped forward and gently pulled Elliana to his side. She didn’t resist. Her concern for his health still lingered. Her fingers moved discreetly to his wrist, her touch feather-light. When she felt his steady, solid pulse, relief washed through her. He was doing better. Much better.

Jeff hovered nearby, desperate to stay close to Elliana. But with Cole there—radiating silent warning like a storm cloud—Jeff wisely kept his distance, sulking behind her like a scolded puppy. He glared at Cole’s back, all bluster and zero bite.

Adah, meanwhile, threw herself into character with theatrical gusto. She let out a cartoonishly loud sniffle and sent Allan a dopey grin so full of mock-infatuation that it nearly sparkled. Peeking at him from beneath exaggeratedly fluttering lashes, she squirmed and twisted like a lovesick schoolgirl playing coy.

Manley burst out laughing and gave Allan another nudge toward the stage for this ridiculous performance.

Rage surged through Allan. He had half a mind to deck Manley then and there, but he tamped it down. One glance at Adah’s absurd getup was punishment enough. A second glance would be self-inflicted torture.

Still grinning like a man who thrived on trouble, Manley turned to Adah with playful civility.

L€$? tя? ?η glov?l.оm

“Well, hey there, Adah. Nice to finally meet you. I’m Manley, one of Allan’s friends. I’ve seen your pictures. You’ve got quite the, uh, distinctive charm.”

It was a diplomatic sidestep—calling her “pretty” would’ve been cruel, but “charm” was a word that could mean absolutely anything.

Adah lit up, her grin a picture of clueless delight.

“Oh, I know who you are! Elliana told me all about you. You’re charming too! Like a big ol’ beast in a fancy suit!”

Manley’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. Since when was “beast in a fancy suit” a compliment? Had she meant to insult him, or was she just spectacularly clueless? Judging by the vacant smile plastered on her face, he figured it was the latter. No use arguing with a hick. Still, the bizarre comparison left him a little rattled.

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Message from Noah: Have an excellent weekend, dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ヾ( )? ? *?

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