?Chapter 515:


    Emmanuel let out a softugh. “Lance is Elliana’s protégé now. It’s perfectly normal for him to visit her. There’s really nothing to worry about.”


    Louisa widened her eyes. “Wait—protégé? Since when had Elliana be Lance’s mentor?” This made no sense. Wasn’t Lance an established expert in AI technology? Why would he suddenly want to study under a designer? Was he actually thinking of switching fields? Completely baffled, Louisa blurted out, “Lance is learning design from Elliana?”


    Emmanuel, knowing he couldn’t expose Elliana as the famed AI master River, sidestepped the question. “I don’t know the details myself. But rx—whatever Lance is learning, it’s all above board. Their rtionship is strictly professional.”


    As Lance’s figure vanished beyond the doorway, everyone caught sight of Cole’s face. His features had grown even stormier, and his entire presence fairly bristled with irritation.


    A flicker of realization passed through the room—was Cole actually jealous? If that was the case, didn’t it mean he still cared about Elliana? Yet, if he still harbored feelings for her, why had he agreed to a divorce in the first ce? Could it be that Elliana had been the one to dump him?


    A current of silent spection surged through the crowd, everyone lost in their own swirling theories. The tension settled thick in the air, making the living room feel more stifling with every second.


    Jason, who’d been contemting checking in on Elliana, seized the perfect opportunity. “I’ll go fetch Jeff,” he said, his voice brisk.


    Without waiting for a reply, Jason slipped out.


    Unlike Lance, no one questioned Jason’s motives. Everyone believed Jason was exactly what he appeared—blunt, honest, never scheming in the background.


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    As Ruben watched his three grandsons trickle out one after another, he grew increasingly uneasy in his armchair. If he were being honest with himself, he also longed to stop by Regal Grove and have Elliana keep himpany for a while. Rumor had it that Regal Grove’s scenery put the Evans family estate to shame. Yet…


    His role as an elder kept the words trapped—he couldn’t bring himself to voice them.


    Meanwhile, at Regal Grove, Elliana stirred from a dreamless nap on the couch, drawn awake by the mouthwatering scent of something delicious. Blinking her eyes open, she discovered that Heather had dragged the dining table over to the sofa and packed it with more than a dozen exquisite dishes.


    No one else’s cooking ever came close to Heather’s. Every te she set out was a riot of color, fragrant enough to make anyone’s stomach growl, and bursting with vors that left people unable to resist. Once everything was ready, Heather lingered nearby, watching over Elliana with a gentle smile. The moment Elliana stirred, she leaned in, her voice filled with cheerful warmth. “You’re finally up. How about some food?”


    Elliana’s stomach answered for her, and she nodded without hesitation. “Yeah.”


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