Chapter 1025:

Edward’s presence seemed to roll off Theo like water off a duck’s back. “Thank you,” Elyse said, getting into the car. Edward, though clearly not thrilled, followed suit. Once inside, Edward, still green with envy, probed, “So, this woman you’re going to see—she’s a mutual friend of yours and Theo’s?” Elyse pondered for a moment, then nodded. “You could say that, but there’s more to it.” “What do you mean?” Edward asked, sulking. “She’s closer to Theo,” Elyse explained. “They’ve got a much stranger connection.” Suddenly, Edward’s penny dropped, and his jaw hit the floor. “Hold up, Theo, this woman isn’t your ex-girlfriend, is she?” Theo’s face darkened like a storm cloud. He was itching to boot Edward out of the car. Elyse hadn’t expected Edward to hit the nail on the head so quickly. She chuckled. “You’re sharp, aren’t you? You figured it out right away. Thought I was being subtle.” Edward puffed up like a peacock, seizing the chance to needle Theo. He cocked an eyebrow at him, his eyes practically screaming, “See that? I’m getting gold stars from Elyse, while you’re just part of her past.” Theo caught the smugness radiating off Edward and saw red. If Elyse hadn’t been there, Theo might have been tempted to introduce Edward’s face to his fist. After a beat, Elyse, recalling something, asked curiously, “What about Mabel? Did you let her go?” “Let her go?” Theo’s voice was calm, almost cold. “If she can’t lead us to Kaelyn, she’ll never walk free. She’s waiting at the agreed location,” he added with a casual shrug. Elyse was taken aback. “She’s cooperating that easily?” Theo’s lips curved into a wry smile. “With a bomb on her? Even if she wanted to escape, she wouldn’t get very far.” The trio drove up to their destination, where Elyse quickly noticed Mabel, guarded closely by a circle of bodyguards. Mabel stood in the center, appearing quite pitiful. After spending just a day with Theo, Mabel had become notably more subdued. If Elyse had realized earlier how much Mabel feared Theo, she would have had him intervene sooner. Elyse sighed quietly, hands in her pockets, as she slowly approached. Mabel caught sight of Elyse, and a spark of hope lit up her eyes. She attempted to move towards Elyse, but the bodyguards blocked her way. . . .