Chapter 1109:

As the melody drifted to a close, Elyse opened her eyes to find Jayden gazing at her, his expression tinged with a sadness she couldn’t quite place. Startled, she blinked. What was wrong with him lately? Why was he suddenly so emotional?

Feigning indifference, Elyse turned toward the ranch owner and asked, “Ma’am, did you like the music?”

The woman smiled warmly, taking a deep breath. “It was beautiful. It makes me miss my husband even more. I think I’ll call him now, just to ask when he’ll be back tomorrow.”

Elyse offered a soft smile in return. “That sounds perfect.”

With that, the ranch owner left, her absence leaving behind an oddly intimate quiet between Jayden and Elyse.

As soon as Elyse settled back into her seat, Jayden’s voice broke the silence. “I have a piece I want to hear, too.”

Elyse took a sip of milk, her tone light and casual. “What’s that?”

Jayden frowned deeply, as if the answer were just out of reach. “I can’t remember. I just know you played it for me once, and I liked it.”

Elyse’s lips curled into a playful pout. “You don’t even remember the name? How am I supposed to play it for you?”

Jayden’s brow furrowed, visibly frustrated by the memory slipping through his fingers. Music had never meant much to him, so trying to recall it now felt like chasing shadows.

Elyse lounged back, her voice lazy with amusement. “Well, when you finally remember, let me know, okay?”

Jayden’s expression hardened. “I want to hear it now.”

Elyse rolled her eyes, unfazed by his sudden insistence. “No, you don’t. Just eat your bread instead.” She grabbed a piece of bread and shoved it into Jayden’s hand.

He glanced at it but didn’t resist, tearing off a piece and chewing in silence. Once the bread was gone, they sat together, basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun. Time drifted slowly, and soon Elyse’s eyelids grew heavy. Sensing her weariness, they decided to return to the hotel to rest.

Around two in the morning, a loud, frantic knock jolted Elyse awake. She groaned, pulling the covers over her head in a futile attempt to block out the noise.

Jayden stirred beside her, unable to ignore the knocking. With a frustrated sigh, he got out of bed and opened the door, only to find Edward standing there.

The sight of him immediately soured Jayden’s mood. Edward’s presence always made his skin crawl, like the sight of a rat scavenging through garbage.