Chapter 1189
Realizing she had been outclassed, Paige felt envy twist through her chest, sharp enough that she nearly ground her teeth in frustration.
Raylan and Vivien, once so smug and superior toward Elliana, now found themselves utterly diminished. Raylan in particular regretted his arrogance. He had once feared Elliana would cling to him, yet now he was too ashamed to even meet her gaze.
Elliana, meanwhile, had long since stopped caring about their petty rivalries or opinions. What truly disgusted her was Paige’s nerve, pretending to be untouchable when she had built her fame on Cole’s money and influence.
Elliana was determined to break apart every single one of Paige’s false beliefs. She smiled at Paige, saying, “Paige, it’s been a while.”
Paige snapped, her jealousy breaking loose. “You manipulative snake! You lived off my family and wore that hideous makeup to fool everyone into believing you’re a dense, ugly woman. Shame on you for pulling off all that charade! And the nerve of you still showing your face in front of me!”
Elliana frowned. “Didn’t Darin tell you the truth? The Jones family’s daily expenses—the food, the clothes—were covered by the wealth my mother left behind. Even the house was my mother’s asset.”
Paige went silent, unable to come up with a single defense.
After Dobbs’s death, the Jones family had lost access to the key medicinal materials that kept Jones Pharmaceuticals afloat. As the company deteriorated to the point of collapse, in a desperate bid to save the family from the prospect of bankruptcy, Darin had confessed everything to the family, hoping they’d find a way out together.
That was when Paige had decided to return to show business. It was the quickest route to wealth and influence, granting her the chance to draw the attention of powerful men who could restore her family’s fortune. The weight of the whole family’s future now sat squarely on her shoulders.
Paige surmised that winning Cole over would solve everything. To achieve that, she understood she had to make an enemy of Elliana. Courtesy had no place between them anymore. Although she knew the depth of Elliana’s abilities, she believed her new status as the Evans Group’s prized asset made her untouchable.
? ? .
With that thought boosting her pride, Paige lifted her chin and sneered, “Stop dredging up the past. I’m not someone you can afford to offend anymore.”
“Heh.” A dry laugh slipped past Elliana’s lips. She already knew Paige’s game and had no intention of letting it play out. “Enjoy your fame while it lasts. You might be the Evans Group’s rising star, but I’m married to the man who owns it. Do you honestly think I need to worry about offending you?”
That single title, the CEO’s wife, was the one thing Paige had always craved for herself. Her hands tightened into fists. “You’re delusional, Elliana!” she snapped, her voice trembling with fury. “A man like Cole never settles for only one woman. Once he’s done with you, he’ll come looking for me. You won’t hold that title for long.”
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