?Chapter 539:


    Ran suddenly broke from his group and stormed over to Elliana, his face twisted in anger. “Elliana, did you know I’d be here? Is that why you came? To pull off your old tricks just for my attention?”


    Elliana blinked at him, stunned. Where on earth did this man get such confidence?


    Jeff stepped in front of her at once, like a shield. “Who the hell do you think you are? Go look in a mirror. You’re hardly handsome. You really think Elliana would give someone like you the time of day?”


    Though young, Jeff was a well-known figure, and his signature bald head made him instantly recognizable.


    Ran didn’t dare pick a fight with the Evans family, so he forced a strained smile. “Jeff, you don’t understand,” he said quickly. “This ugly woman is obsessed with me. She’s always pestering me just to win my affection. I simply walked over to warn her to back off.”


    Jeff scoffed. “Elliana is obsessed with you? Don’t tter yourself. Elliana only looks at men of my caliber. Seeing someone like you would only turn her stomach.”


    Ran’s face turned bright red. He tried to defend himself. “I’m telling the truth! She used to—”


    “Scram!” Jeff roared, cutting him off.


    Then, Jeff shouted across the banquet hall, loud enough to shake the ceiling, “Where the hell is the Hudson family? Anyone still alive over there? Your dog slipped its leash and started biting peoplee collect it!”


    Despite his age, Jeff’s voice carried like a cannon. Everyone in the hall turned to look.


    Ran was so furious that he could have spat blood. If Jeff weren’t an Evans, he might have lunged at Jeff right then and there. Just then, a tall, lean man stepped out of the crowd. His voice rang sharp and clear. “Ran. Apologize to Ms. Marsh. Now.”


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    It was Quentin—Ran’s uncle and the current head of the Hudson family.


    When Ran insisted on marrying Paige, Lenard had agreed but stripped Ran of his status as the family head, passing it on to Quentin instead. Paige had been furious about this. She had never truly liked Ran, and her disdain for him had only grown after he was stripped of the family head role. But with no better admirers on her side, she had no choice but to maintain the appearance of adoring Ran.


    Ran was livid, but Quentin wasn’t just family—he was the new family head. Ran had no choice but to obey. Clenching his jaw, he muttered, “Sorry, Ms. Marsh.” After that, he turned away in shame.


    Quentin stepped forward, his refined air and gentle smile exuding quiet strength. “Ms. Marsh, I’m Quentin Hudson. Please ept my sincere apology for my nephew’s behavior.”


    Elliana looked at him, silent. Though she was certain they had never met, she couldn’t shake the strange sense of familiarity.


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