Chapter 1022:

“No worries. I have something important to tell you,” Theo responded. “Tonight, we’re luring the mastermind out. Kaelyn is coming personally to catch you.”

“Kaelyn is that desperate? Just for my eight-million-dollar bounty?” Elyse sounded surprised. “Is she really that strapped for cash?”

“It’s not just about the money,” Theo explained. “If something happens to you, she stands to benefit in other ways too.”

After a pause, he added, “I’ll come to pick you up later. Letting Kaelyn get to you is part of the plan, but I can’t risk anything happening to you.”

Elyse thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll message you once the banquet ends.”

Elyse ended the call and walked back into the restaurant. No sooner had she entered than someone with a vodka bottle approached her, inviting her to drink. She grabbed an empty glass, poured vodka halfway, toasted with a friend, took a swig, and resumed her seat.

Nearby sat Darren, whose cheeks were already glowing as he scooted over, glass in hand.

“Who picked this place? This vodka’s strong. I owe them thanks. I doubt I’ll even manage the trip back to the hotel tonight,” he said, burping loudly.

Elyse laughed. “Who knows? This stuff hits fast, so maybe cut back on the drinks.”

Fueled by his drink, Darren, cheeks flushed, voiced a question he had been pondering. “The tour kicked off today, yet I didn’t see Jayden. He promised he wouldn’t miss it last time I checked.”

As Elyse gripped her glass, she recalled the unanswered messages and unreturned calls from Jayden. Every night, she wrestled with fear and worry. Masking her inner bitterness with another sip, Elyse answered, “I don’t know why he didn’t show up.”

Darren scratched his head, taken aback by her reaction. After a pause, he suggested, “Aren’t you two going to fix things? It doesn’t seem like the love’s gone. Why not sit down and sort it out?”

Elyse gave a small smile and chuckled lightly. “That’s a good one. Maybe you should ask Jayden that for me.”

Darren clicked his tongue. “Me? I don’t even have his number. How am I supposed to help?”

Elyse exhaled deeply. “Exactly, it’s our issue. You can’t intervene. We need to deal with it ourselves.” Realizing he had dampened Elyse’s mood, Darren hastily added, “Don’t take it to heart. I was just making conversation. Didn’t mean to upset you.”

He then gestured towards Quinn. “Look at that guy. We’re supposed to be celebrating, yet he’s moping alone in the corner. Total loner.”

Elyse looked over at Quinn and remarked, “Let him be. He just ended a relationship today. Maybe a bit of drinking will help him move on.”