Chapter 1245:
“Maybe,” Elyse murmured, hastily waving her hands in dismissal. “I’m off to take a shower!” With that, she dashed into the bathroom, closing the door with a finality that suggested she wasn’t coming out anytime soon.
From the other side of the door, Louise watched with amusement, chuckling softly. She tossed her head back slightly, a proud smile forming on her face. “Ah, I must admit, I do have a gift. I’ve even helped divorced couples find their way back to each other,” she mused aloud, though her words fell on deaf ears. Had Elyse heard them, she would have been speechless.
Now alone with her thoughts, Elyse felt a newfound calmness and clarity regarding her turbulent relationship with Jayden. If their issues had persisted, surely it pointed to unresolved misunderstandings. Resolving them could clear the way for them to reassess their feelings and the foundation of their relationship. Her mind drifted to a story George had once shared about her parents’ youthful entanglements. What exactly had driven them apart, and what had ultimately brought them back together?
The answers, she realized, lay in unraveling her own emotions first. In the solitude of her thoughts, Elyse began to feel uncertain about her understanding of what love truly meant.
In the following days, Elyse immersed herself in rehearsal, though a subtle uneasiness lingered due to Fiona’s unexplained absence since their last encounter. Fiona had been acting oddly recently, and it was hard to believe she would simply vanish without causing some kind of disruption. Despite her concerns, the intensity of the rehearsal left Elyse with little time to dwell on it.
Two days before the big event, Elyse and Darren were leaving the arena when they noticed a group of people with cameras gathered in a nearby corner.
With a curious glance, Darren asked, “Do you think the media might have caught wind of our orchestra’s upcoming show?”
Elyse looked over briefly, shaking her head. “I’m not sure, but they don’t look like regular reporters. More like sneaky paparazzi.”
Darren chuckled. “You think there’s a star in the area?”
“Maybe. But it’s none of our business,” Elyse replied with a shrug as she got into the car, Darren following.
Unbeknownst to them, the photographers continued snapping pictures of their car as they drove away.
Back at the hotel, Elyse found Louise packing her bags.
“Are you leaving?” Elyse asked, surprised.
Louise nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been crashing here for days. I need to head back.”
A hint of sadness crossed Elyse’s face. “Leaving at night? Can’t you wait until tomorrow?”
“I’ve been on the go all day. This is the only time I’ve had to get my things together,” Louise said, pouting slightly. Glancing at her watch, she added, “I need to hurry. I’ve got a meeting after this.”