Chapter 1175:
She spoke with tears shimmering in her eyes, acting as if she were heartbroken on Delavan’s behalf. Her carefully chosen words turned her into the picture of innocence, piling fuel onto Delavan’s growing resentment toward Elena. That anger now threatened to boil over, his thoughts fixed on ruining her.
Outrage twisting his features, Delavan blurted, “That sinister snake! She’ll get an unforgettable lesson for crossing the wrong man—I’ll put her in her place!”
“Stop right there!” Lord Rosethorne barked, halting Delavan in his tracks. He hadn’t forgotten Elena’s unusual link to Torin.
Delavan spun on his heel, rage still crackling in his voice. “Dad, don’t try to stop me. I’m ending that arrogant bitch—tonight!”
A heavy warning colored Lord Rosethorne’s reply. “If you so much as touch that girl, the Duke of Blackwood will unleash hell on us. The Duke of Blackwood is the kind of man who’d erase our family without a second thought.”
“So I’m just supposed to let it go?” Delavan’s protest came thick with frustration.
That was when Elyse stepped in, her voice slipping into the conversation. “Maybe there’s another way…”
Curiosity flickered in Delavan’s eyes as he turned to her. “Go on, let’s hear it.”
A sly glint flashed in Elyse’s gaze as she lowered her voice. “The Duke of Blackwood hasn’t even let her move into his estate. Maybe she’s just a passing fancy to him. Word is, Major General Fowler’s son, Ashton, is back from his training…”
“…stint. If we steer her toward Ashton, we’ll see just how much the Duke of Blackwood really cares. Watching her cozy up to a man like Ashton—especially with his reputation—the Duke of Blackwood might not stick around for long.”
Few men were as notorious as Cade Fowler’s son, Ashton. Ashton’s temper was the stuff of legend.
“Ashton Fowler? That brutal savage who’s allegedly driven six women to their deaths?” Delavan’s understanding dawned instantly.
Elyse nodded with calculated precision. “Yes. Ashton might possess a volatile temper, but his family commands respect throughout the city. Elena capturing his interest would be equivalent to striking gold.”
Delavan’s lips curved into an evil smile. “Absolutely—she’d be hitting the ultimate jackpot if she ever caught his attention.”
He savored the word “jackpot” with venomous satisfaction. Given Elena’s intoxicating beauty, drawing Ashton’s attention seemed inevitable. Just imagining she would likely end up dead in Ashton’s bed made him smirk.
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩: g𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈𝗏𝗲𝗅𝘀꞉𝗰𝗼𝗺
Lord Rosethorne found merit in this twisted scheme. “But how do we get Elena to meet Ashton?”
Elyse’s eyes ignited with cunning certainty. “I’ve already devised a perfect plan.”
Elena had barely settled into her room when her phone rang, an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen. She answered without speaking, and a sickeningly familiar voice floated through. “Elena, meet me tomorrow morning at the Stellaruxe Hotel.”
Elyse’s artificially sweet tone made Elena’s features contort with disgust. Elyse had hired thugs to assault her. Luckily, her combat skills had driven them off. She hadn’t settled the score with Elyse yet, and now Elyse dared to contact her as if nothing had ever happened. The audacity! Did Elyse need another harsh lesson just to remember not to mess with her again?
Elena’s voice dripped with impatience. “Absolutely not interested.”
She prepared to sever the connection when Elyse, anticipating this rejection, intervened desperately. “Wait! Don’t you crave information about Wesley?”
Elena’s hand turned to stone, her tone sharpening like a blade. “What did you just say?”
Elyse’s smugness practically radiated through the line. “If you hunger for answers, arrive at the Stellaruxe Hotel tomorrow morning at ten sharp.” Before Elena could formulate a response, Elyse severed the connection.
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