?Chapter 1804:


    Peyton stroked his chin thoughtfully. “No, I haven’t. Word has it her academic performance is mediocre at best. Her family isn’t nning to send her abroad for higher education. They’re simply eager to get her engaged quickly. I doubt she has anything remarkable about her.”


    “Academic performance isn’t everything,” Elyse interjected. “Take Jayden, for instance. He’s clever, but has he ever been what you’d call a normal man?”


    Jayden’s eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on Elyse, who maintained an expression of pure innocence.<fn8dfd> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? fινdnοvel</fn8dfd>


    Peyton couldn’t help but grin at her observation. “You make a valid point. A high IQ doesn’t necessarily make her good wife material.”


    Jayden pinched Elyse’s cheek. “You’re such a good girlfriend,” he said through gritted teeth.


    Elyse shed him an impish smile. “I’m just helping him gain some perspective.”


    Peyton shrugged dismissively. “Nope. I remain unconvinced. My preference stands—sexy, confident, mature women. College students simply aren’t my cup of tea.”


    Jayden’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Is that so? What a shame. I believe Miss Lawrence might be precisely your type. One nce and you’d fall hopelessly for her.”


    Elyse perked up immediately, intrigue written across her features. “She’s hot?”


    Jayden’s eyebrows arched yfully. “I won’t divulge too much. Some discoveries are best made on your own.”


    Peyton snorted dismissively. “Hardly necessary. Your words carry little weight with me. You’re clearly trying to lure me into meeting her.” Jayden merely offered an enigmatic smile, letting silence speak volumes where words would fail.


    “On a more pressing note, Clive’s been absent quite a while,” Peyton observed. “Did he get lost?”


    Peyton rose to his feet with subtle urgency. “I’ll check the restroom.”


    Without further exnation, he exited the room and made his way directly to the restroom.


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    As he approached the restroom door, his eyes fell upon a young woman with alluring curves crouched beside Clive. She sipped delicately from a drink in her hand.


    “Sir, are you feeling any better?” The woman’s voice flowed like honey, soft with genuine concern.


    Clive sat slumped against the wall, hisplexion ashen and head bowed low. “I’m fine,” he managed weakly. “I simply forgot I hadn’t eaten anything today. Thank you for the drink. I’m feeling much better now.”


    The woman’s expression brightened. “I have plenty of candies with me. Let me share some with you.”


    As the words left her lips, she reached into her purse and extracted several colorfully wrapped candies.


    One slipped through her delicate fingers and rolled to a stop at Peyton’s feet.


    The woman extended her hand to retrieve it. Only then did she sense someone standing behind her and nce upward.


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