Chapter 100:
Early on the second day, Elyse was already up, shouldering her handbag as she made her way downstairs. Driscoll, noticing her early start, approached with a concerned look. "You're up quite early today. What's the reason?"
"I need to practice, so I'm heading out early," Elyse said, quickly exiting the house and skipping breakfast. Driscoll watched her go, sighing as he noted the anger on her face.
Later, Jayden began his day, wheeling himself to the dining table. Noticing Elyse's absence, he inquired nonchalantly, "Hasn't she gotten up yet? Isn't she supposed to be at work?"
"She's already left," Driscoll replied, his voice tinged with anxiety.
With a slight frown, Jayden pressed, "She's still upset, isn't she?" After a brief pause, Driscoll admitted, "Yes, it seems so." Jayden's expression darkened, and he muttered through clenched teeth, "Perhaps I've been too lenient with her." Driscoll sighed deeply, sensing the gravity of the discord between Jayden and Elyse; it was more severe than ever.
Elyse reached the studio and, after a rehearsal with other orchestra members, felt a pang of hunger. She went to the lounge for something to eat.
After a brief breakfast, Wanda and another male instructor, Kai Hanson, entered the rehearsal room. Kai scanned the group and declared, "We're arranging a celebratory dinner for those who participated in the filming session at the TV station yesterday." An excited colleague asked, "Your treat?" Kai corrected him, "No, it's courtesy of the TV station. They were impressed with your performance last night and are interested in a long-term partnership." Wanda, smiling, added, "This gives you more opportunities to showcase your talents." They then left the room.
Holding a glass of water, Elyse considered her evening plans. Realizing she wouldn't be home for dinner, she thought about telling Jayden, but quickly dismissed the idea. "Why should I have to report everything to him?" she thought.
In the evening, as she arrived at the hotel, her phone rang—it was Jayden. "The driver went to pick you up, and you weren't at the studio. Where are you?" His voice was calm, making it hard to gauge his mood.
Placing her handbag on a chair, Elyse mirrored his calm tone. "I'm at a dinner party. I won't be home for dinner tonight."
Jayden's response carried a hint of displeasure. "Did I agree to you attending the party?"
"Do I need your permission? You don't care about my affairs anyway," Elyse retorted.
"I don't understand you. I just didn't go to watch your performance. Why are you so angry with me?" Jayden waited for a reply, but Elyse hung up.
"Elyse, how dare you!" he exclaimed, his anger propelling him to stand from his wheelchair. He turned to Driscoll. "Get a car ready for me now. I'm going to bring her back."
Driscoll responded cautiously. "Sir, she didn't provide the address of the party. I'll have the car ready shortly, but we'll need to find out where she is."
"Then find it quickly!" Jayden snapped, his frustration evident.
Meanwhile, at the hotel restaurant, Elyse put her phone aside and joined her orchestra members. Shortly after, the TV station's manager and Kai arrived, and everyone enjoyed a lively dinner.
During the meal, feeling unwell, Elyse excused herself to the restroom. Upon exiting, she found two men standing ominously by the door. Her heart raced—possibly from drinking too much. Trying to maintain composure, she eyed them warily and demanded, "Who are you? This is the ladies' room!"
The men exchanged glances and approached her, reaching out as if to grab her. Elyse tried to flee, but felt weak and unresponsive. As she became increasingly dizzy and her limbs grew limp, she realized she had been drugged, though she couldn't recall when or how.
The two men seized her and escorted her to the elevator. As her body temperature rose, panic set in, but her mind was too clouded to react effectively.
Back in the private dining room, her orchestra members remained unaware of her abduction. Her phone vibrated persistently on the table until a slightly tipsy colleague picked it up. "Hello, who is this?"
On the other end, Jayden's voice was stern. "Let Elyse answer the phone."
"She's not here, probably in the ladies' room," the girl replied, her words slightly slurred. Confused, she asked, "And who am I speaking with?" Glancing at the display, which showed "Jayden," she waited for an answer.
"I'm her husband, and I've come to pick her up," Jayden replied coldly.
...