?<strong>Chapter 1598:</strong>


    The man—uncle to both Brook and Jayden—drew her closer, his brow furrowing with concern.


    His voice emerged gentle and protective. “Sweetie, tell me who has wronged you. I’ll ensure justice is served.”


    “It’s Brook!” Corrie’s voice cracked with calcted anguish. “He’s threatening our engagement, bewitched by some neer. He intends to marry her instead!”


    Her shoulders trembled with artificial sobs. “I endured his dalliance, believing it temporary. But now their connection deepens. My heart can’t bear this betrayal. Only you can make this right.”


    Rage darkened the man’s features as he struck the mattress. “His behavior grows increasingly intolerable. To consider breaking a formal engagement—preposterous!”


    Corrie pressed closer, her voice dropping to a vulnerable whisper. “Without your support, I’ll face abandonment. That means our precious visits would end…”


    Her fingers traced a deliberate path downward as she spoke.


    Despite his years, the man’s resistance crumbled before her calcted advances. He pulled her closer, iming her lips with desperate hunger.


    Corrie released a practiced whimper, yielding to his embrace with practiced submission, allowing him to believe he controlled their encounter.


    Elyse stirred awake and reached for her phone, noticing a message from Reba. She realized Reba must be feeling anxious. In the days since her return to the county, she hadn’t provided Reba with any updates.


    If she didn’t give Reba an opportunity, thetter wouldn’t be able to execute her scheme.


    As Elyse contemted how to buy herself more time, her phone illuminated with Reba’s iing call.


    She epted the call, feigning drowsiness as though just roused from slumber.


    Detecting this, Reba’s tone mellowed. “Did you sleep well, Elyse?”


    Elyse murmured in affirmation, “Of course.”


    Reba sighed dramatically. “I didn’t sleep a wink. I’ve been wondering why you haven’t answered me. Did you forget about me already?”


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    A soft chuckle escaped Elyse. “How could I forget you?”


    “Then what’s your response to my request?” Reba pressed. “I’ve been waiting for you for ages.”


    Elyseughed, light and teasing. “Give me a few more days to think it over.”


    Reba’s frustration simmered beneath the surface, suspecting Elyse might refuse to participate in the event. Elyse’s calcted dy felt like deliberate maniption to her.


    Suppressing her growing irritation, Reba questioned, “How many days do you need to think?”


    Elyse adopted a thoughtful expression, though her mind had already calcted her response. “Three to four days, perhaps? I’m quite busy, you know. I need sufficient time to decide about attending this event.”


    After a weighted pause, Reba conceded, “Alright, I’ll wait for you. Once the time expires, I’ll call you.”


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