After exploding from the bedroom, Cole marched directly toward the small courtyard where the Fletcher siblings had taken up residence, his expression dark as gathering thunderclouds. His second application had failed to stir Elliana’s emotions in any meaningful way. Instead, it had transformed him into an of ridicule. The memory alone sent fresh waves of humiliation coursing through him. This catastrophe rested squarely on the shoulders of that imbecile Myles.

At that precise moment, Myles’s eyelid spasmed uncontrollably. A sinking feeling churned within his chest, and he couldn’t dismiss the ominous premonition that catastrophe loomed dangerously close.

Paulina, Aron, and Hugh occupied seats around the table, working their way through breakfast, while Myles prowled back and forth in isolation.

“Myles, aren’t you planning to eat? What’s driving you to pace like a caged animal?” Hugh inquired, genuine curiosity threading through his words.

These recent days had positioned Hugh as unquestionably the most triumphant among the brothers. His relationship with Heather had been unveiled to the world, and Paulina championed it wholeheartedly—she had already begun orchestrating elaborate arrangements for their upcoming wedding.

Paulina had always harbored a particular fondness for Hugh, and now that favoritism blazed even more conspicuously due to Hugh’s relationship with Heather, a remarkable woman. Every time Paulina lavished praise upon Hugh, she inevitably launched barbed criticisms at Myles and Aron, branding them utterly useless for failing to attract even a single woman’s genuine interest. Though frustration simmered hotly within them, Myles and Aron endured the verbal assault in silence, never daring to mount any defense.

Hugh had grown progressively more insufferable in his older brothers’ presence, attacking his meal with robust enthusiasm and transparent satisfaction.

Myles already teetered on the edge of a foul temper. Watching Hugh shovel food into his mouth without a single worry only amplified his irritation exponentially. He finally erupted, venom lacing his words. “Mind your own damn business and focus on your food.”

Hugh remained utterly unbothered by Myles’s caustic attitude. He simply flashed an infuriatingly cheerful grin and countered smoothly, “Don’t tell me you’ve bungled something again and managed to provoke Cole’s wrath?”

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Hugh’s jab hit Myles where it hurt most. He halted in his tracks, his anger flaring as he swung at Hugh without warning. “You just keep asking for it, don’t you?”

Caught off guard, Hugh was too slow to dodge. The slap cut through the air and sent the donut he’d been biting flying from his mouth.

The projectile pastry landed straight on Aron’s face, smearing glaze across his cheek.

Hugh let out a cry and dove behind Paulina, desperate to put her between himself and the chaos. Meanwhile, Aron wiped sugary glaze from his cheek, bewildered by the sudden turn of events. He struggled to understand how he’d ended up caught in the middle when Myles had clearly meant for Hugh to pay the price.

While Hugh managed to slip away unscathed, Aron was left with a sore cheek and a sticky mess as proof that luck was not on his side today.

No one even glanced in Aron’s direction, leaving his quiet misery to hang in the air without sympathy.

Myles burned with fury. Since his first attempt had missed completely, he charged again with his sleeves shoved up and every bit of his calm gone.

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