Chapter 1325:

Once again, she had failed to accomplish her parents' assigned task. Now, she had no choice but to relay Jayden’s impossible demands to them. She could already picture their disappointment, their scornful accusations of incompetence. Letting out a long, weary sigh, she glanced at Jayden and Elyse one last time before leaving.

After the door closed, Elyse lowered her voice, commenting softly, “She didn’t seem happy. It’s clear she didn’t want to leave empty-handed.”

Jayden smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “When has she ever been happy leaving this house? She’s been here twice, and I’ve denied her what she wanted. The Owens are used to getting their way. They think their name gives them the right to take whatever they want, regardless of others.”

Elyse studied him silently for a moment. Then, she said, “It’s amazing that you managed to break free from a family like that. You’ve built a life of your own.”

Jayden’s smile softened, his voice dropping as he said, “That’s because I met you.”

Elyse froze, her mind reeling. For a moment, she thought she had misheard him. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, meeting his deep, penetrating eyes. The intensity in his expression sent an unfamiliar shiver through her, her heart racing, her breath catching in her throat. Flustered, she quickly looked away, but Jayden wouldn’t let her retreat. He gently turned her face back to him, his tone severe yet tender. “My past isn’t what people imagine. It wasn’t filled with privilege or luxury—it was suffocating, oppressive, and dark. Knowing that, would you still choose to stay by my side?”

Elyse blinked in surprise, his words cutting deeper than she’d expected. For the first time, she began to understand why Jayden’s love had always felt so overwhelming, so consuming. Love wasn’t kind or nurturing in his family—it was power and control masked as affection. Hierarchies and manipulation reigned supreme, disguised as devotion. As he had learned, love wasn’t about freedom or equality. It was about possession—holding on tightly, never letting go, no matter the cost. That was why he’d tried to control her before. He didn’t want her competing abroad because it was too far away, beyond his reach. His need to protect her had morphed into a compulsion to keep her close, to confine her within his world. . . .