Elias deliberately emphasized the word "ex" as if staking his claim, making it clear that he had once had Evangeline while Cassian was nothing more than a second-rate substitute, someone picking up the scraps.
His outward arrogance was merely a cover for the jealousy simmering beneath the surface.
After all, the man standing before him was undeniably superior in both looks and presence.
The realization that Evangeline had actually found someone better than him left Elias feeling like he had swallowed a fly, disgusted and inexplicably irritated.
Cassian remained utterly unfazed, casting a detached glance at Elias before speaking.
"Oh. And?"
His response was brief, almost dismissive, yet it carried an undeniable weight as if a king had deigned to acknowledge an insignificant challenger
