?Chapter 558:


    “Of course, I’d be happy to help,” she answered, voice even and inviting.


    “Wonderful!” Excitement flickered on Ruben’s face as he gestured toward a private space. “Let’s have a word in private, then.”


    Elliana nodded with a quiet smile and walked beside him.


    Instructions came swiftly from Cole. “Stay on them.”


    Myles rolled Cole forward, never hesitating as he tailed the pair. Jason, whose eyes had never left the disguised Elliana, trailed behind them.


    With Elliana gone, the guests lost all reason to linger and started making their way out, whispering among themselves.


    Chaos and humiliation hung in the air as the ill-fated banquet came to a pitiful end. Trinity, who’d once basked in everyone’s attention, found herself suddenly abandoned. Even the socialites she’d invited snubbed her, their parting words little more than sharp-edged whispers. Soon, only the Craig family remained, the vast hall echoing with the emptiness left behind.


    Utterly defeated, Trinity crumpled to the floor, her sobs echoing through the vacant space.


    Weariness pulled another deep sigh from Bonnie, each breath weighted with fatigue.


    Pouting in silence, Norwood and Joslyn looked as if defeat had clipped their wings.


    Comfort was nowhere to be found. Lance and Jeff remained nted in their seats, waiting for Elliana to return, yet the longer they lingered, the more her absence pressed in.


    Boredom soon won out. Jeff scrolled through his phone before firing off a message. “Elliana, how long can a restroom break take?”


    A quick responsended in his inbox. “Already left. No need to wait around.”


    Disappointment settled on Jeff as he turned to Lance. “She’s gone already,” he said with a resigned shrug.


    No hesitation flickered in Lance’s reply. “Let’s go see Dr. Atkinson, then.”


    Jeff quickly agreed and matched Lance’s pace as they headed for the doors.


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    “Did you hear Jason’s theory?” Jeff murmured with a shake of his head. “He tried telling me Dr. Atkinson was a murderer. He’s got a screw loose.”


    Elsewhere, Elliana and Ruben slipped through the backyard, their voices kept just above a whisper. A gleaming reception room weed them in, with Cole trailing at their heels.


    Orders were swift as Cole faced Myles. “Close the door. I don’t want anyone to interrupt.”


    “Understood.” Myles followed the order, pulling the weighty door shut and taking his ce outside alongside Aron and Hugh.


    As the door clicked closed, Jason had a good sense of what kind of talk was happening behind it. He didn’t step forward, choosing instead to stay back and quietly watch from afar.


    Inside the room, Ruben ushered the disguised Elliana to the seat of honor and settled beside her.


    Cole, still and watchful, remained in his wheelchair near the door, unacknowledged but clearly significant.


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