Chapter 126:

Elyse was hurt by Judy's shy expression. "It's just a contract," she said, her voice laced with pain. "Why did you keep it from me and say it was a secret between the two of you?"

Jayden, utterly confused, replied, "What secret? How could there be any secret between me and Judy?"

Elyse waited for an explanation, but Jayden only looked puzzled, making her feel as though she were being impolite.

Theo's face flashed in her mind. Once, she and Theo had been strong. He had treated her well. Then Kaelyn arrived, and Theo's affections changed.

A shiver ran down Elyse's spine. Was history repeating itself? Would she endure the agony of abandonment again?

She held back her tears, her grip tightening on her clothes. "I've got nothing left to say," she whispered.

Tears flowed uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Jayden was startled. He instinctively reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

"Oh my, what's wrong?" Driscoll's voice cut through the tension as he saw Elyse running out. He hadn't expected to find her in tears. Concern etched his face as he hurried after her. "Are you alright? Did Mr. Owen upset you?"

Jayden sat in silence, feeling unjustly accused. He hadn't done anything to upset her.

Ignoring Driscoll, Elyse bolted upstairs, her tears flowing freely, leaving a trail of anguish.

From the shadows, Judy smirked. It had been a mere ploy, but enough to unsettle Elyse. "What a gullible woman," she muttered. "Joanna's failure against such a woman is a stain on our family's reputation."

Judy slipped away to her room and summoned her driver. "You can go home now. I'll be staying at Jayden's for a while."

The driver was surprised. "Wow, how did you manage that? Joanna never succeeded."

"Don't compare me to her," Judy scoffed. "She's a dimwit who only pleases men in bed."

Impressed, the driver pressed for details. "So, are you aiming to replace Elyse? Do you have a plan?"

Judy sneered. "Elyse is easier to manipulate than I thought. A little trickery, and she'll be going crazy. I'll never understand how Joanna bungled this."

The driver grinned. "So, you'll soon be marrying your beloved?"

"We'll see," Judy said with a self-satisfied smile. "Rushing things won't win Jayden's heart. We need to take it slow."

"Go home," Judy instructed firmly. "And don't breathe a word to my brother or try to reach me. I'll contact you when I'm ready."

The driver nodded. "Understood. I'll leave then."

Judy tossed her phone aside and collapsed onto the bed, overjoyed, visions of her future with Jayden dancing in her head. "Elyse is so fragile, like a delicate glass figurine waiting to be shattered. But fear not, I'll shatter her slowly."

Calculating the time, Judy emerged from her room around dinner. The table was set, and Jayden, summoned from his study by Driscoll, was waiting.

Noticing Elyse's absence, Judy feigned concern. "Mr. Owen, Ms. Lloyd isn't down yet. Should I fetch her?"

Jayden, unaware of Elyse's distress, dismissed her concern. "No need. If she's not hungry, let her be."

Driscoll opened his mouth to speak, but a glance from Judy silenced him.

As Jayden ate, Judy served him and stood beside Driscoll. It was her duty to be a maid, but could she truly be willing to do such a job?

Glancing around, she said, "The aroma in the kitchen was tantalizing. Mind if I join you for dinner now that the table is set?"

The ellipses (...) at the end suggest the story continues. I removed them because this appears to be the end of the provided text.