Chapter 1270:

Elyse turned to him, taken aback by the raw honesty in his voice. In recent days, he had begun to peel back his reserved layers, revealing thoughts that shimmered with vulnerability, leaving her both touched and a tad overwhelmed. After a moment’s hesitation, she excused herself with a fleeting smile and hurried to catch up with Darren.

Puzzled by her swift departure, Jayden quickly followed, his expression a mix of concern and confusion.

In the periphery, a figure shrouded in a black jacket and baseball cap observed their exchange from a discreet distance. Hardy leaned in and whispered, “I thought you were going to approach Elyse.”

The man in black shook his head slightly.

“The timing isn’t right. We’ll wait for a better moment—an opportunity will surely arise.”

With those cryptic words, he rose and drifted out of the airport, with Hardy trailing a few steps behind.

Elyse, feeling a prickling sense of unease, stopped and glanced back. Her eyes darted through the crowd, searching for something she couldn’t quite define.

Jayden caught up to her, concern etching his features.

“What are you looking at? It’s almost time for our flight.”

“I felt a gaze on me—like someone was watching,” Elyse murmured, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

“Is there a threat?” Jayden’s voice tightened with protective urgency.

“No, it wasn’t menacing,” Elyse assured him, her gaze still locked on the bustling crowd. “It was more like an echo of familiarity, almost comforting in a way that’s hard to explain.”

Elyse didn’t linger over the strange feeling and promptly boarded her flight home.

When they touched down in Cambape, Darren had to catch a connecting flight to Watscar, leaving Elyse to navigate the bustling airport without him.

As Elyse and Jayden emerged into the daylight outside the terminal, they were greeted by Pearce’s enthusiastic grin. Pearce stepped forward, enveloping Elyse in a warm embrace and lifting her off her feet.

“Elyse, you’re finally here! I’ve missed you terribly,” he exclaimed, spinning her around in his arms.

Elyse, taken aback by the sudden display, felt a blush creep across her face. She hid behind her hands, laughing, “Pearce, enough! Let me down, please.”

Pearce chuckled at her bashful response, teasing her further, “That was just a short trip abroad, and here you are, blushing like a school kid on their first day.”

Message from Noa: Had a great weekend, dear readers! Had an amazing day. God bless you, and Noa wishes you all the best. (─‿‿O)