Chapter 298
Chapter 298:
The thought alone stirred a storm of discomfort in Austin’s heart.
Were they close? Too close?
“Cayson, I didn’t see you earlier, so I headed back first,” Yelena said, her smile radiant enough to light up the room. It was a smile Austin hadn’t seen before—so bright, so unguarded, it caught him off guard.
Cayson? The name rang a bell. Could he be the same Cayson from the Harris family that he had heard of before?
Cayson’s deep chuckle carried warmth as he asked her, almost playfully, “So, how was it? Hawk’s a beauty, isn’t he? Did he win you over p>
Yelena nodded, her eyes sparkling. “I love him,” she admitted, her tone sincere.
Cayson’s grin widened, his face alight with satisfaction—until he felt a pair of sharp eyes drilling into him. Following the gaze, he spotted Austin standing a few feet away.
The face was unmistakable. Austin Barton. The man was practically a legend in Kheley.
Though they’d never crossed paths, Cayson had heard enough to recognize him.
Austin’s low-key demeanor only made his reputation shine brighter, an enigmatic force few could ignore. Cayson’s brows lifted in curiosity as his eyes darted between Yelena and Austin.
Sensing the shift, Yelena stepped in smoothly. “Cayson, this is Austin Barton p>
Turning to Austin, she added, “And Austin, this is my brother—Cayson Harris p>
Austin’s deep, velvety voice carried a subtle edge as he asked, “Your biological brother p>
Yelena let out a sigh, rolling her eyes. “Yes, my actual, flesh-and-blood brother. Why, does it matter p>
ℝ𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒸h𝒶ρtєrs 𝑜𝓃 g𝓐l𝑛ovєls.𝓬0𝓶
The emphasis on “biological” hung in the air, and Yelena couldn’t help but wonder what was swirling in Austin’s mind.
Austin kept his expression effortlessly neutral, but internally, he couldn’t help thinking that, yes, it did make a difference.
A moment later, he flashed a warm, friendly smile and extended his hand to Cayson. “Mr. Harris, it’s a pleasure to meet you p>
Cayson froze for a second. So many people coveted the chance to meet Austin, yet few ever got that privilege.
It was a bit surreal that Austin was the one making the first move and offering a handshake now. Without missing a beat, Cayson stepped forward, eager to shake his hand. “Hello, nice to meet you as well.” Cayson still found it hard to believe.
It was clear to him that Austin’s friendliness had a lot to do with Yelena. But how did the two of them know each other?
They didn’t seem to have any connection.
What was Austin’s relationship with Yelena?
Though Austin was a powerhouse in Kheley, to Cayson, his little sister was priceless, and he’d protect her at all costs.
Still, men had a way of quickly finding common ground, and soon enough, the two were deep in conversation, chatting about everything from business trends to the latest sports highlights.
Yelena couldn’t help but be fascinated by this side of Austin—he was so much more down-to-earth than she’d ever imagined.
It was clear that Cayson and Austin got along like old friends, even making plans to race horses together. Watching them, Yelena felt a warmth spread inside her. As the evening set in, they all gathered for dinner at the equestrian center’s canteen.
It was a lively spot, buzzing with energy and people.
Meanwhile, Bella watched from a distance, her frustration building. Seeing Yelena so unaffected and in such good spirits was a bitter pill to swallow. Her carefully devised schemes had done nothing to harm Yelena.
It seemed she would need to rethink her approach.
At the Roberts residence, a tense stillness hung in the air. Ever since the scandal involving Tatiana and Sonya’s attempt to frame Yelena, the two had been confined to the house, unable to step foot outside.
Their plan had backfired spectacularly, and though they had once stirred the public’s outrage against Yelena, the truth had shattered their scheme. Now, they didn’t dare show their faces.
The public uproar had subsided, but it wasn’t enough to lift the weight pressing down on them.
Sonya, feeling the walls close in, was the first to break the silence. “Mom, can we please go shopping? I’m going stir-crazy staying in all the time p>
Tatiana sighed heavily and replied, “I know, sweetheart, but you need to lay low. Your father is still furious about what happened, and we need to be cautious. The last thing we need is more attention p>
She had never anticipated the extent of the Internet’s power. The scandal had exploded online, dragging the Roberts family into a storm of public humiliation and harassment.
The consequences were terrifying.
They hadn’t dared step outside for fear of being recognized and subjected to even more public scorn.