Chapter 1068:

Hearing this, Elyse questioned, “Will all these schemes and battles ever end? Am I just supposed to stay here forever?”

“Not forever. I’ll resolve this soon. Don’t worry. Just wait for me,” Jayden assured her, his voice calm yet firm, attempting to ease her anxiety.

Elyse let out a bitter laugh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Here we go again—waiting. We’re divorced, and yet you still want me to wait around for you? What is it with you and always making me wait?”

She jabbed her finger sharply into Jayden’s chest, frustration seeping into every word. “What gives you the right to keep me waiting my whole life?” Tears threatened to spill as a wave of helplessness washed over her, her nose tingling.

Desperate to hide her vulnerability, she spun on her heel and retreated into the room. Jayden tried to follow, but the door slammed shut inches from his face, the sound echoing in the hallway.

Rubbing his nose, a flicker of guilt crept up on him. He knew his actions had hurt her, and while part of him regretted it, he couldn’t stop now. There was no turning back—not after everything. The weight of loss still hung heavily in his heart. Having tasted it once, he knew he couldn’t survive it again. As her man, he felt it was his duty to shield her, to give her the kind of future she deserved—one free of fear and doubt.

Inside, Elyse collapsed on the edge of the bed, choking back quiet sobs as the tears finally broke free. The flood of emotions drained her, and after a while, she leaned against the pillow, biting her lip as anxiety gnawed at her. The future was a blank slate, a terrifying unknown, and all she could see was chaos.

After what felt like hours of restless tossing and turning, she finally drifted off into a deep, uneasy sleep. Jayden, ever watchful, quietly slipped into the room. Seeing her fast asleep, he tiptoed closer, his heart strangely calm.

In recent days, he had danced with death more times than he cared to count, dodging bullets and charging through gunfire. There were moments when he was sure he’d never make it back to her, when hope seemed a distant memory slipping through his fingers. It was the unwavering determination to return to her that fueled him, keeping him moving even when everything else told him to give up. He believed that even if he couldn’t stand on his own two feet, he’d crawl his way back to her. Standing beside her now, he felt an odd sense of peace settle over him.

Suddenly, Elyse stirred, her eyelids fluttering open as if she could sense Jayden’s presence. She blinked up at him, her fingers reaching out to gently graze his face.

“Why do you always leave me feeling so broken?” she asked softly, her voice fragile.

Jayden placed his hand over hers, pressing it against his cheek. His voice was low, filled with quiet remorse. “It’s on me. I know.”