?Chapter 514:


    He spun on his heel and strode away, his tiny frame brimming with an oddly intense resolve, like a pint-sizedmander heading into battle.


    Cole, already on edge, felt his temper re at Jeff’s ridiculous theatrics. His jaw tensed, and he had to fight the urge to grind his teeth.


    Cole paid no mind to the stares or smirks scattered across the room. With a purposeful stride, he left the crowd behind, not pausing for even a second. When he reached Trinity, he brushed her aside with a firm nudge, signaling her to get out of his way.


    Though the gesture stung, Trinity forced herself to suppress the irritation bubbling beneath her skin.


    Irene lost herposure entirely. She bellowed after him, her voice sharp with rage, “Jeff! Get the hell back here this instant!”


    Jeff, ignoring the outburst, clutched the cat with one arm, the suitcase swinging from his other hand, and disappeared through the doorway without so much as a backward nce.


    “Ungrateful little brat!” Irene spat, teeth clenched in frustration. Despite her fury, she could do nothing but watch him go, every muscle in her body tense with anger. Even though Jeff was still legally under her care, his unruly streak had never wavered. No form of discipline ever seemed to rein him in.


    Cole watched Jeff’s figure shrinking in the distance, a sharp irritation building in his chest. The urge to haul Jeff back and set him straight nearly overpowered him.


    In the past, Jeff had always snuck around when visiting Elliana, tiptoeing like a thief for fear of running into Cole. But since news of Cole and Elliana’s divorce had spread, Jeff no longer bothered with caution. Now he had the nerve to publicly dere he was off to Elliana’s ce—to win her heart as her future husband.


    The whole scene left Cole stinging, as if someone had deliberately ground salt into a fresh wound. Frustration churned inside him, heavy and suffocating.


    A pointed cough cut through the tension. Lance spoke up, his voice steady. “It’s the middle of the night. Not exactly safe for Jeff to wander around alone. I’ll drive him over.”


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    With that, Lance bolted out the door after Jeff, barely pausing to nce back.


    Everyone left in the living room exchanged baffled looks, easily seeing through his flimsy excuse. Nobody could forget how fiercely Lance and Jeff squabbled, never missing a chance to butt heads. Since when had Lance started worrying about Jeff’s well-being? It was in as day that Lance was using Jeff as an excuse to show up at Elliana’s.


    Louisa let out a resigned sigh, shaking her head at the absurdity. “Jeff’s just a boy, so it’s no surprise if he gets up to some mischief. But Lance? He’s a grown man. What’s his excuse for getting mixed up in all this?” She looked over at Emmanuel with weary disbelief. “Honestly, honey, can’t you rein Lance in? Are you really going to let him run wild without lifting a finger?”


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