Chapter 51: Reflections and Extravagance
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Leanna sighed deeply, her chest rising and falling as she tried to let go of her concerns.
In the end, she knew it was no use.
Cole had inherited his father's stubbornness. Once a decision was made, it was etched in stone.
She couldn't help but think of Cain—how similar father and son were, both unyielding, both driven by something that few could understand.
Both were obnoxious and extreme.
Leanna's thoughts drifted back to a time long ago, to when Cain had been pursuing her with the same relentless fervor.
Memories flooded her mind—how Cain had gone to absurd lengths to prove his love, the grand gestures, the unwavering persistence.
She could still vividly picture that moment—Cain, the man who had captivated her in a whirlwind of less than a month, dropping to one knee before her, holding a breathtaking ring.
The pink diamond at its center sparkled like a fragment of the sunset, unlike anything she had ever seen. It wasn't just any ring—it was a masterpiece, the kind royalty would envy, worth more than she could fathom.
And despite all her resistance, despite all her attempts to push him away, she had fallen for him. Hard.
A soft giggle escaped Leanna's lips, surprising even herself. Their love story . . . it had been such an adventure, full of twists and turns, passion and turmoil.
Leanna smiled wistfully, her eyes softening as the memories washed over her like a warm tide.
And now, watching her son pursing a woman with the same intensity . . . like father and son indeed.
Leanna's heart softened as she watched her son. Perhaps, despite his cold facade, he had inherited something else from his father—the capacity for love, fierce and unrelenting.
"Alright, Cole," she said gently, shaking her head with a smile. "Just . . . don't overwhelm her too much. Even the grandest gestures can be intimidating."
"Don't worry, I won't."
Something told Leanna that wasn't going to happen. Like his father, Cole didn't know the word . . . moderation.
Cole then changed the topic. "You said Eve loves cream puffs, didn't you?"
Leanna paused, startled by the shift in conversation. "Yeah. Why?"
"Well, she hates them."
"That can't be right. She told me she loved them too," Leanna mused, her brow furrowing in thought. "But you know what's funny? She asked me once if
you
liked cream puffs. When I told her yes, she suddenly claimed to love them as well. Do you think she only liked them because you did?"
Cole stared at the screen, her words echoing in his mind. He hadn't noticed it before, but now that he thought about it—Eve had always seemed to mirror his preferences, whether it was something as small as food or as significant as lifestyle choices.
Had she ever truly liked those things, or had she been molding herself into what she thought he wanted—bending, shifting, just to fit into his world because she had loved him that much?
It was only now that he understood. She hadn't just liked him. She had loved him with a depth and devotion that went beyond anything he deserved.
She had poured her heart into a man too blind to see it, wasting time, energy, and her very self on someone who never gave her the same in return.
The weight of her silent sacrifices, the quiet way she had tried to align herself with his desires, suddenly felt suffocating. It was a love so profound, yet he had been too consumed by his own indifference to recognize it.
Now, it was too late for regrets.
Leanna watched Cole closely, her motherly intuition picking up on the subtle shift in his mood.
She decided to leave him to his thoughts for now. "I'll have the servants bring you some dinner up here," she said softly, wheeling herself toward the door.
Cole nodded and resumed on what he was doing.
As the auction neared its end, Cole glanced at the total. Hundreds of millions spent on these extravagant pieces—all to make Eve happy, to show her some form of affection.
In the end, Cole had won every piece of jewelry at the auction house, but the one thing he truly wanted—a complete jewelry set—remained elusive.
Frustrated, he picked up his phone and called his right-hand man and personal bodyguard, Zen. They were the same height, built like athletes, and had been inseparable since childhood.
When Zen entered, his usual air of calm was met with Cole's impatience.
"You want me to source out a jewelry set for you?" Zen asked, his brows slightly furrowed.
"That's right. I'll send you a picture of Eve, so you can match it," Cole replied, scrolling through his phone.
There was a stunned silence on Zen's part. "A woman? Wait—this isn't for your mother or sister?"
Cole's patience was wearing thin. He always got these questions when buying something for Eve. "No, Zen, it's for
Eve
Rosette
. Find me a jewelry set that complements her features. I don't want one or two, find me as many as you can."
Zen hesitated for a moment, clearly taken aback. "Uh, right. Eve Rosette . . . for her birthday, right?"
Cole didn't bother answering, his mind already moving to the next topic. "While you're at it, source some bags too—luxury brands."
Zen, still processing the first request, blinked in confusion. "Just to be clear, this isn't for you, right?"
Cole's gaze stopped him cold. "
No
. It's for
Eve
." How many times did he need to emphasize that part?
Zen's jaw dropped, and before he could stop himself, the words came out. "Aren't you going a little overboard with the gifts? I mean, this is like—extreme, right?"
Cole's sharp eyes flashed in warning. "Is it your money?"
Zen paused, raising a finger in mock surrender. "Good point. It's your hard-earned cash. But as your loyal friend, secretary, butler, brother, and bodyguard, it's my job to remind you not to blow it all at once. Didn't you say you wanted to start a Cybertech company with that money?"
Cole leaned back in his chair, unbothered. "I already have a separate account for that."
Zen's eyelid twitched as a bittersweet jealous smile crept onto his face. "Of course you do. Why wouldn't you? You're Cole
FAY
, after all!" he almost forgot that part.
"Now get to it," Cole added, the finality in his tone unmistakable.
Zen, shaking his head in disbelief, muttered under his breath as he left. "Rich people . . . I wish I had problems like that.
'Oh no, I need more diamonds and bags!'
Meanwhile, I'm over here debating if I can afford extra cheese on my burger."