Chapter 1347

Hugh shook so hard that he clutched Paulina’s shoulders. “Paulina, do something. He’s going to beat me up!”

Paulina breathed out slowly and aimed a cold stare at Myles. “Stop it right now.”

Myles froze on command, his hand suspended only inches from Hugh.

Hugh jerked backward, eager to put as much space as possible between himself and that raised hand.

Myles forced out a harsh breath and dropped his arm. Since he could not land the blow, he yanked at his tie with two rough tugs to bleed off the anger.

Paulina understood the source of Myles’s temper. She gave him a level look and said, “What is done is done. Sitting here worrying will not fix a thing. Eat your food. You will need the strength when it is time to apologize.”

Spurred on by her words, Hugh let out a smug little laugh. “So Myles really messed up this time. Is Cole going to kick him out?”

“Just eat your food!” Paulina shot Hugh a sharp glare. “Why are you grinning like you just won the lottery? What’s so thrilling about Myles getting in hot water?”

“Well, would you look at that,” Hugh said, snorting as he leaned back and polished off the last bite of his donut, a mischievous grin stretching across his face. “How long do you think it’ll take Cole to let Myles off the hook finally? Heather and I are tying the knot soon—do you think Cole will even let Myles attend our wedding? I swear, our kid will be calling us ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ before Myles gets out of the doghouse!”

To Myles’s dismay, Paulina piled on without a hint of mercy. “No sweat. We’ll just have the baby call Myles on video. That should be enough, right?”

Hugh nearly doubled over with laughter at her remark.

Aron lifted his hands in surrender, casting a look of sympathy at Myles, who could only muster a subtle, annoyed twist of his lips.

Hugh’s infectious energy filled the room, cutting right through the heavy cloud that clung to Myles.

gν?

As Myles watched Hugh devour another donut, looking every bit the picture of pure bliss, he felt a sting of envy twist in his chest.

Hugh had always been a little odd—not the smartest guy around, and completely lost when it came to perceptiveness. Compared to Myles and Aron, he seemed almost hopeless.

And yet, fate had gone out of its way to shower Hugh with every ounce of good fortune. No matter how many times Hugh messed up, Paulina always leapt to his defense, leaving Myles and Aron to deal with the fallout.

There was a time when Myles and Aron all figured Hugh would end up a lifelong bachelor, thanks to his lack of tact or charm. In the end, he was the first to get engaged—and not to just anyone, but to Heather, who had it all: looks, smarts, and more talent than anyone else in the room.

Meanwhile, neither Myles nor Aron could catch a break with women. There was no telling when—or if—that would ever change. Was this what people meant when they claimed that luck always drifted in unexpected ways?

Brooding didn’t belong to Myles alone. Aron simmered right beside him. Watching Paulina flutter from one wedding detail to another was eating him alive. He’d never said a word about envying Hugh, yet the truth gnawed at him now.

In Aron’s mind, he had the looks, the brains, and the competence. So why was Hugh walking around like fortune’s favorite child?

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