Chapter 115

Joanna glared at Jayden. He was just a cripple—or so it seemed—and they were alone. What was there to fear? She dropped her pretense, her face twisting into a grimace of contempt.

“Elyse! Elyse! You see only Elyse! You adore her!” she bellowed. “I’ll destroy her!”

Jayden fixed her with a cold gaze. “It was really your doing, then?”

Joanna burst into laughter. “What if it was? Do you think you’re still the man you once were?”

She curled her lip in scorn. “Now you’re even discarded by your family. What future lies ahead for you? Running from our wedding was the only sensible thing I could do. But she was dragged back.”

She remembered Brook’s promise: if she could seduce Jayden and ruin his relationship with Elyse, he would grant her freedom. The thought of freedom was intoxicating.

With a twisted smile, she pulled a vial of powdered drugs from her pocket and advanced toward Jayden.

“I excel in bed,” she said excitedly, attempting to make him swallow the powder. “You’ll gain from this… cripple.”

Annoyed, Jayden swung his hand forcefully. The vial Joanna clutched fell, scattering powder everywhere.

Before Joanna could react, a kick sent her sprawling. She clutched her stomach, wincing in pain.

Jayden pulled back his foot and slowly rose from his wheelchair. Seeing him stand, Joanna’s face went pale. Her finger trembled as she pointed at him.

“You—you’re not a cripple!” Her voice quaked with fear.

Jayden ignored her and asked icily, “Where is Elyse?”

As Joanna stared at his legs, realization dawned: Jayden had never been crippled. He’d feigned disability for a year, concealing his true strength. In that moment, she understood everything she’d missed by fleeing their wedding.

Terrified, she crawled toward him, seized his leg, and fearfully kissed his shoe.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Owen. I didn’t mean to do that. Please forgive me. I’ll do anything for you,” she pleaded.

Jayden looked down at her. “Really? Then tell me, where is Elyse?”

Joanna trembled, falling silent, afraid to speak. Noticing her hesitation, Jayden grasped her hair and stared at her coldly.

“Tell me where Elyse is, or you die,” he said icily.

Fearing for her life, Joanna quickly confessed, “She’s at an abandoned factory in the western suburbs. I… I had people take her.”

She stopped, unable to continue or meet Jayden’s intimidating gaze, fearing she might be killed.

Meanwhile, Elyse was confined in a sack, tossed into a car, unaware of her destination. Starving and exhausted, she struggled to think clearly. The car eventually halted.

Moments later, the door opened, and someone dragged her out and hoisted her onto his shoulder. Having not eaten for hours, Elyse felt nauseous. She retched repeatedly, but the man showed no reaction. He carried her to his destination and dropped her to the ground.

Overhearing a nearby conversation, Elyse was horrified.

“Why hasn’t that woman sent us any message yet? Maybe she’s busy in bed. It’s normal for her to forget about us. Normal? Are you kidding me? I just want to be done with this woman and get out of here. This place is cold, and it’s unnerving to stay here.”

Was Joanna planning to kill her? Despair welled up in her heart. Was there truly no escape?