?Chapter 678:

    He’d started calling her honey again, just as he used to—never mind that the papers still said they were divorced. On his tongue, the word felt natural. Elliana offered a slow, teasing smile. “First,” she said, “we get up and have breakfast. You’ll find out after.”

    Curiosity crackled in Cole like static, but he held it at bay with effort. Rising, he dressed quickly before turning to the wardrobe. He chose something for her with the same care one might give to a delicate ritual. Then, returning to the bed, he coaxed her gently from its warmth, helping her dress piece by piece—every motion filled with quiet devotion.

    Elliana melted beneath his touch, her heart blooming with every small gesture. She felt utterly, deliciously spoiled. And yet, a flicker of fear whispered at the edges of her thoughts. If the third injection erased everything—if it stole her from his memory entirely—could she worm her way into his heart? Would the man he became look at her the same way? Would he still hold her like this and love her with the same unwavering tenderness?

    The thought of him being a stranger, of losing this precious intimacy, settled in her chest like a stone. But she buried the fear, pushing it down deep where he couldn’t see it. He was already carrying so much—his anxiety ran deeper than he let on. If he sensed her uncertainty now, it might be enough to break his resolve.

    Once they were dressed, Cole reached for Elliana’s hand, their fingers weaving together with ease born of habit and affection. They descended the stairs side by side, the soft hush of the morning wrapping around them.

    Ruben and Jarrett were nowhere to be found—phantoms in the mansion. Though they all lived under the same roof, it was as if Ruben and Jarrett had perfected the art of disappearing. Days had passed without so much as a passing nce or the echo of footsteps in the hall. If not for the private jet still stationed on the tarmac, one might have assumed they’d already flown off the ind.

    Once settled at the dining table, Elliana nced at Paulina with casual curiosity. “Where are Ruben and Jarrett?” she asked, her tone light.

    Paulina, ever poised, replied smoothly, “They were up at dawn. Had an early breakfast and went for a walk along the beach. They’ve returned to their rooms since.”

    “Oh, okay.” Elliana nodded, thinking nothing of it.

    Cole, on the other hand, knew exactly what was going on—but said nothing. His father and grandfather weren’t just being polite. They were orchestrating absence, stepping aside with deliberate intent. They were giving him time and space to seal something permanent with Elliana. He knew what they were hoping for. He couldn’t me them—he shared that same hope. Whatever fate nned to do with his memory, a child would be proof they had loved—deeply, truly, irrevocably. A living thread that tethered him and Elliana together, even if time tried to fray the rest.

    New updates in gα?ησν???s?c?m

    After breakfast, Cole and Elliana followed Ruben and Jarrett’s earlier path, strolling hand in hand along the shore, waves brushing the sand beside them like nature’s quiet apuse. Later, back in the living room, they curled up on the sofa, wrapped in sunlit peace.

    Cole held Elliana close, the moment too perfect to dy any longer. “Alright,” he murmured into her hair, a hint of impatience curling through his tone, “I can’t wait anymore. Tell me—what’s the ‘painful yet wonderful’ thing?”

    Elliana’s gaze drifted to the wide windows, a soft glint of anticipation in her eyes. “It hasn’t arrived yet.”

    Cole followed her stare to the horizon, realizing whatever she had nned wasing from beyond the ind. His mind buzzed—what could possibly warrant such secrecy?

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