Chapter 1337
Cole froze, suddenly unsure of himself. Was she really this unaffected? Or was she putting on a straight face on purpose—getting a little payback for the past?
Before he could overthink further, Elliana slowly raised her head. The moment their eyes met, Cole understood everything. She wasn’t pretending. She was genuinely unmoved.
The silence was painful. He had confidently prepared tissues for her tears, and here she was, looking at him like a teacher grading a student who tried too hard.
A faint smile pulled at Elliana’s lips, carrying a sharp edge of amusement.
Cole rubbed the bridge of his nose awkwardly. “What… What is it that you didn’t like?”
Elliana let out a dry laugh. “Wow. Such incredible literary skill.”
It sounded like praise, but Cole felt the sting beneath it.
She continued with a sweet smile, “Your writing flows beautifully. Over ten thousand words without a break—you truly have a gift. If you published this, other writers would study it with admiration.”
Cole coughed hard. He honestly wished the earth would open and swallow him. Elliana was tearing him apart—politely, elegantly, and with a smile.
Enjoying his discomfort, she added softly, “I can tell you’ve been talented since you were a kid.”
Before Elliana could finish speaking, Cole broke into a harsh coughing fit. He wanted to disappear. The embarrassment was overwhelming.
When the coughing finally settled, he risked a glance at Elliana—only to look away instantly, his ears burning. “Just tell me what’s wrong. I can take it.”
Elliana tilted her head, clearly enjoying the sight of him squirming. “You recorded every moment of our story and poured your emotions all over the page. The writing itself is perfect—smooth, complete, and beautifully structured. But…” She paused, letting the silence drag. “It’s missing something.”
“What exactly?” Cole asked quickly.
? g
A sly smile curved her lips. “Figure it out yourself.”
And with that, she closed her eyes, settling down for her nap as if she hadn’t just crushed his confidence.
Cole returned to his study and placed the failed application on the desk. He stared at it for a long time. Elliana had said something was missing—but what? He had already wasted one of his three chances. Only two remained.
His first draft had been written with absolute confidence. But now, that confidence had evaporated. He didn’t dare scribble a single word without careful thought. He would have to rethink the entire thing from scratch. One misstep and he’d face another round of Elliana’s merciless teasing—and another wasted attempt.
Cole sat there for a long while, deep in thought, but the longer he thought, the more unsure he became. His pen hovered over the page, untouched.
Eventually, he called for Paulina and Myles. They were well-educated and sharp-minded—surely they could offer a sliver of wisdom. Even if it bruised his pride, he was willing to try anything if it meant pleasing Elliana.
When Paulina and Myles entered the study and saw Cole’s solemn expression, both straightened up immediately. They thought something serious had happened.
.
.
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