Chapter 1058:
Elyse shook her head slowly. “Mabel and I stopped being family a long time ago. She was my enemy. Now that she’s gone, I feel relieved, like a weight’s been lifted.”
Edward considered her words. “So, is that a good thing?”
“Maybe. I don’t want to deal with the aftermath of the mess. Let’s head back. I’m exhausted,” Elyse replied, her tone flat.
Edward nodded and took her home.
During the drive, Elyse stared out the window, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Edward glanced at her occasionally, noticing something different. She seemed more composed, as if something had shifted inside her, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
When they returned to the Moon Palace, Elyse ate a light meal and retreated to her room. Mabel’s death hadn’t shaken her emotionally, but it still left a mark.
That night, Elyse dreamt of Mabel and Glenda for the first time. In her dream, Mabel sobbed in Glenda’s arms, spilling all the pain she had carried over the past months. Glenda turned, her eyes cold and accusing, and pointed at Elyse. “You ungrateful monster. You should’ve taken care of her!”
The words stung like venom. Furious, Elyse tried to defend herself, but before she could speak, she jolted awake.
The room was dark, and a hollow, heavy feeling settled in her chest. She had been ready to strike back in the dream, only to wake before she had the chance. Frustrated, she kicked at her blanket, tossing and turning before sleep found her again.
The deaths of Mabel and the other two individuals only caused minor ripples in Elyse’s life. It was as if a small stone had been thrown into a lake—briefly disturbing the surface, but soon enough, everything returned to normal. In the days that followed, Elyse focused on rehearsals with her friends.
Soon, they traveled to a neighboring town to prepare for the next leg of their tour. The busyness occupied Elyse’s mind, and she sometimes forgot about Jayden entirely.
Meanwhile, Edward and Theo were still investigating the rumors of Jayden’s death, hoping to verify the truth. However, Elyse believed he was alive, perhaps living quietly, away from it all.
The day before the show, Elyse sat at a small café in town, her thoughts wandering. Edward set down his coffee, noticing her distraction. “Nervous about tomorrow? Don’t be. You’ve been doing great. The instructor’s been full of praise.”
Elyse smiled faintly and shook her head. “Not nervous, just tired. The training’s been intense.”
Edward rubbed his own shoulders, a grin on his face. “Yeah, my shoulders are killing me.” He glanced out the window absentmindedly and noticed a group of people rushing down the street. Something about it made him uneasy.