Something stirred deep within Cole’s chest—a yearning he couldn’t name. He found himself wanting to speak those syllables, to taste how “Elliana” would sound in his own voice. The name possessed an almost musical quality, each letter sending warmth coursing through his veins like liquid fire.
Then an unexpected drama unfolded before his eyes.
Arthur, it seemed, harbored his own streak of possessiveness. While he’d monopolized his daughter’s attention without hesitation, watching Milton embrace her for even a moment longer than necessary sparked visible irritation in Arthur’s features.
Before Milton could hold her any longer, Arthur’s hand closed around his daughter’s arm. He guided her firmly toward the living room, his voice carrying forced cheerfulness. “I’ve arranged an entire spread of delicacies for you. Tell me which ones catch your fancy.”
Milton recognized his father’s jealous streak immediately. Years of observation had taught him to read Arthur’s moods like weather patterns. He watched his father shepherd Elliana away, amusement tugging at his lips. Only then did his gaze shift to the forgotten Cole still standing beside the car.
The memory of their previous encounter at Ublento Medical University’s opening ceremony hung between them like an unspoken challenge. Their disagreement had been minor but memorable.
Ordinarily, seeing each other again would have fanned that ember of dislike into flame. But with Elliana standing between them, the usual animosity could not take root, leaving behind a faint, awkward air instead.
Even though Milton had promised Elliana he wouldn’t show Cole any hostility, he couldn’t shake the bitter resentment he felt when he thought about his precious sister being infatuated with this annoying man.
Milton had no desire to speak to Cole at all, and if he absolutely had to say something, he certainly didn’t want it to be anything pleasant. Every time he opened his mouth, he felt the overwhelming urge to unleash a barrage of cutting remarks. But remembering the promise he’d made to Elliana, he forced himself to swallow the harsh words that kept rising in his throat.
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Cole was perceptive enough to pick up on Milton’s conflicted feelings toward him, but following his strategy of humble charm to win over his future bride’s family, he greeted Milton with careful politeness.
His courteous behavior only made Milton feel more uncomfortable and on edge.
It was a strange twist of fate that the two men happened to be exactly the same age and even shared the same birthday.
However, Cole had been born one hour before Milton, which technically made him the older of the two.
Since Milton was Elliana’s protective big brother, Cole made sure to treat him with the respect that position deserved.
Milton, who already disliked Cole, finally saw an opportunity to assert some dominance. He sneered, “Even though you might be older than me by an hour, I’m Lilah’s elder brother. Showing me proper respect shouldn’t be too difficult for you, should it?”
Who could have imagined that the famously sophisticated and brilliant heir to the Sun Group empire could act so childishly in some matters? Follow current nov?ls on Find1Novel.net
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