The moment those words left his mouth, Vivien released a sound that could only be described as a wounded animal’s cry. His words had been absolutely ruthless, each syllable landing like a physical blow aimed directly at her most vulnerable spot. What made them truly unbearable was that they were completely, undeniably true. Everyone in their entire social circle knew about her obsessive infatuation with Merlin. Just as universally known was the fact that he couldn’t stand being anywhere near her. She remembered with burning humiliation the time she’d accidentally brushed against his sleeve at a party, and he’d physically shoved

…her to the floor in front of dozens of people. Myles was absolutely right. She had never stood a chance with Merlin, and she never would.

Having zero interest in wasting another precious second dealing with this hysterical woman’s breakdown, Myles left her standing there, drowning in her tears. He climbed into his car and peeled out of the driveway, the engine roaring as he accelerated down the road.

Elliana, who had watched this entire ridiculous drama play out before her eyes, gave an amused little shrug. She turned to go search for Rosemarie, ready to finally accomplish what she’d actually come here to do.

But Raylan, who had been standing in uncomfortable silence throughout the entire spectacle, suddenly moved to block her path. His voice emerged quiet and uncertain, the question seeming to come from nowhere. “Elliana… is there any possibility left for us? Could we somehow find a way to start…”

Elliana smirked. Raylan wanted to start over? The ludicrous suggestion struck her as so preposterous that she felt certain she must have misunderstood. She fixed Raylan with a look dripping with mockery. When exactly had they ever shared anything resembling a relationship?

Certainly, they’d been playmates during early childhood, but that ended when they reached five years old. After that, he hadn’t merely disliked her—he had actively collaborated with Paige to torment her relentlessly. So where was this delusional “start over” fantasy coming from?

Raylan squirmed uncomfortably beneath her withering gaze, his cheeks flushing crimson with embarrassment. “Elliana, you had such strong feelings for me once, and I… I completely failed to value that. I recognize now that my behavior was completely wrong. I just… I wanted to know if you might be able to develop feelings for me once more?”

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Elliana released a humorless laugh. She nonchalantly swept a loose strand of hair away from her face and countered sharply, “So you’re standing here asking me if I could like you again, which means you want to steal Cole’s woman? Is that what you’re actually suggesting right now?”

“I…” Raylan found himself completely unable to formulate a response. Steal Cole’s woman? The mere thought sent terror coursing through his veins. A single penetrating look from Cole possessed enough power to make him feel utterly insignificant, completely crushed beneath that man’s commanding aura.

Raylan found himself drowning in an ocean of profound loss, bitter regret, and simmering resentment. Elliana had once cherished him so deeply—so intensely that she’d actually thrown herself into freezing river water at midnight on his behalf—yet he’d failed to value her feelings beneath the disguise she’d constructed. The blame rested entirely on his shoulders for being so catastrophically blind, for allowing someone so gorgeous, so extraordinarily talented, and so devotedly in love with him to slip from his grasp.

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