Chapter 1158:

Elyse laughed. “No way. Think of it as sponsoring your love life. Dating costs money, Anthony. You need to earn more if you want to marry her in the future! You can’t run a business like this.”

Edward walked up, nodding. “She’s right. That violin is expensive. It’s only fair to take some payment. Plus, you two need to be practical—you’ve got a life to build.”

Anthony hesitated. Edward’s reasoning swayed him. He pulled out his phone, blinked in surprise. “This much? It’s double the price!”

Elyse shrugged. “No problem. I’m supporting your love life. Make some extra cash so you can buy gifts for your future girlfriend.”

Anthony scratched his head. “Too much, really. How about returning part of it?”

Elyse stepped forward, patting his shoulder. “I’ve got to go. I’ll swing by later. Thanks for everything, Anthony. You’ve taken such good care of me these past few weeks.”

After bidding Anthony farewell, Elyse and Jayden slipped into the car.

As the city blurred, Elyse’s heart felt like a cloud that refused to drift away.

Silence stretched between them, thick as the fog before dawn, until she whispered, “Next time we meet, it’ll likely be at Anthony’s wedding, right?”

Jayden’s eyes stayed fixed on the road. Edward broke the silence, his tone casually optimistic. “Anthony seems inexperienced. If that nurse can be patient with him, maybe it’ll work out.”

Elyse nodded thoughtfully. Then, turning to Jayden, she asked, “Where are we headed now?”

Without turning, Jayden answered coolly, “We need to head back. I’ve got unfinished business.”

Elyse hesitated, then asked, “Do you all really intend to keep up the conflict?”

Edward spoke, his words dripping with quiet resignation. Elyse’s gaze fell on Jayden’s stoic profile. Her voice barely a whisper, she asked, “When will it end?”

Jayden’s reply came slow, deliberate, as if unearthing ancient truths. “It ends when peace decides to arrive.” The resolution was clear—peace was not promised, but a distant hope. The conflict would continue, its end uncertain and far away.

They drove with the steady determination of a man who refused rest, pushing the night deeper into itself.

Elyse’s thoughts swirled, making sleep elusive. Edward, however, brimmed with an odd energy, his words tumbling out in a stream of ideas ranging from history to future technology.

Elyse, caught in the whirlwind of Edward’s enthusiasm, finally interrupted, smiling. “You’ve asked so many questions, I’m struggling to keep up.”