?Chapter 497:


    The bodyguards stood there, defeated, shoulders slumped and heads bowed in shame. They had thrown their lot in with Carter and rence, convinced that siding with the next family head would bring them fortune. But the gamble had failed, and now they had nothing to show for it. The weight of their mistake sank in, and the sting of the fallout would stay with them. Next time they took a job, this moment would haunt them as a lesson they wouldn’t dare forget.


    Regret weighed heavy on the bodyguards, but their wallowing was cut short by Cole’s piercingmand. “cklist every one of them from the security business. Spread the word—anyone who hires these men will answer to me.”


    Hope evaporated on the spot. Offending Cole meant their careers were over before they’d even begun.


    Cries of desperation filled the room. “Mr. Evans, please, we made a mistake! Give us a chance to redeem ourselves!”


    “Mr. Evans, please—we’re begging you! Don’t wipe us out entirely!” The bodyguards begged with everything they had, their voices thick with desperation. But to Cole, they were nothing more than background noise, and there wasn’t even a flicker of sympathy in his eyes.


    Paulina, never one to tolerate time-wasters, stepped up with her people. “Enough. Get out, all of you. Don’t let Mr. Evans see your faces again!”


    Beaten and hopeless, the bodyguards shuffled from the room with nothing but regret forpany.


    A strange stillness settled over the room as thest of them disappeared, though the tension hung in the air like a storm cloud. No one missed the warning Cole’s actions had sent. The fear in the room was evident. His message rang out clear as day—he would go to any lengths to protect Elliana. With Cole as her unwavering protector, nobody in their right mind would dare cross her again.


    Eyes wide, Irene cowered behind Bertram, praying that Cole wouldn’t single her out next.


    All the while, Elliana understood what this meant. Cole, despite his fragile condition, had forced himself to appear—all for her sake. A gentle warmth bloomed in her chest, wrapping her in a soft blend of thankfulness and quiet affection. Had he truly willed himself awake just to defend her? The thought left her heart fluttering.


    Complet3 c0nt3nt at g??lnovels.??????


    When Cole decided toy down strict punishment on Carter and rence, Ruben didn’t step in to stop him.


    Carter was Ruben’s younger brother, and up until now, Ruben had avoided taking any real action against him. But everything changed once Carter targeted Elliana. Cole’s anger boiled over, and Ruben chose to simply watch in silence as Carter and rence faced the consequences.


    Bertram and Emmanuel, caught off guard by how swiftly things unfolded, kept their shock to themselves. Neither of them tried to challenge Cole’s authority. Their willingness to ept his decisions stemmed from Cole’s unmistakable capabilities, whichmanded their respect. He had a kind of authority and resolve that none of them could match, making him the natural choice to lead the Evans family. A chill settled in the room as Cole looked around, his face unreadable. “Does anyone want to say something?”


    .


    .


    .