?<strong>Chapter 1485:</strong>


    Stumped and out of ideas, Victor shifted his focus to Pearce, who sat quietly beside him.


    Victor tucked his phone back into his pocket, irritation still simmering beneath his calm facade. Without warning, he swung his leg and yfully kicked Pearce.


    Pearce was nursing a drink when the sudden kick caught him off guard. Fuming, he shot back, “What the hell, why are you kicking me?”


    With a calm demeanor, Victor asked, “So, how’s Elyse been doingtely? Is she alright?”


    The guys in the private room turned their attention to Victor’s question, curiosity lighting up their faces. “Yeah, Pearce, how’s she doing? You never talk about her anymore,” one of them asked.


    Another chuckled, “Pearce is always so protective of her. For the longest time, he wouldn’t even think about introducing her to us.”


    “Pearce, seriously, why the wall? Some of us are still single, you know. Don’t you care about sharing a bit of her with us?” another added with a teasing grin.


    Pearce couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Back off. Don’t even think about getting close to her.”


    He paused, then added, “And by the way, she’s divorced, and her ex is still around. So, don’t bother, you’re wasting your time.”


    One of the guys raised an eyebrow. “Her ex is still hanging around after the divorce? She must be something special. Now I really want to meet her,” he said, intrigued.


    Pearce snapped back, “Dream on!”


    gα?ησν????s is where imagination thrives


    Victor, never missing a beat, chimed in, “Why not give Elyse a call? Tell her you’re throwing a party and we can all meet her.”


    The others added, “Yeah, she’s been back for ages, and you still haven’t introduced us to her. Come on, Pearce.”


    At his limit, Pearce growled, “Victor, you’ve been talking too much today.”


    Victor grinned, leaning back. “Pearce. I’m serious. Think about it—Elyse is your cousin, but she doesn’t know your crowd, doesn’t know us. What does that say about how you see her?”


    Pearce, tipsy and struggling totch onto the thread of the conversation, parroted the question. “What does it say?”


    “It says,” Victor continued, his tone pointed, “you don’t fully ept her. You keep her at arm’s length, don’t let her into the fold. You’re not treating her like family, not really.”


    Pearce stiffened, his face flushed. “You’re right,” he dered with a dramatic wave of his arm. “I need all of you to look out for her!” Without another word, he fumbled for his phone and dialed Elyse’s number.


    The room quieted as everyone leaned in, their curiosity palpable.


    After a few rings, Elyse’s voice finally floated through the line. Victor’s expression shifted into something inscrutable as she answered the call.


    “Is everything okay?” Elyse asked.


    “Not at all!” Pearce said, a little too loudly. “Just thought I’d check in. Been a while since we talked. Wanted to see how you’re holding up.”


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