Chapter 157:

Elyse kept her appointment with Theo, but she wasn't alone. Jayden's men accompanied and protected her throughout the journey; she also carried a specially made alarm device from Jayden. Pressing a button would summon immediate intervention from his men.

Arriving on time, Elyse rang the doorbell. Theo opened the door, wearing a housecoat that made him seem more approachable than usual. He noticed the violin case in her hand, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Just finished your practice?"

Elyse nodded and asked, "What do you need from me here?"

"Come in," Theo said, leaning lazily against the doorframe.

With a sigh, Elyse reluctantly entered and bent to change her shoes. Theo's gaze drifted to her waist, noticing for the first time how slender and well-proportioned she was. He wondered why he hadn't noticed before.

"Doesn't Jayden mind you coming here?" Theo asked, half-jokingly.

After slipping into slippers, Elyse gave him a cold glance. "You know he would mind, yet you insisted I come alone. Did you do that deliberately? Just drop the act."

Her response caught Theo off guard. Elyse had always been gentle and accommodating, never openly defying him. Her current crankiness surprised him. He realized she was no longer the person she used to be; her character and temper had shifted, influenced by Jayden. He thought ruefully that Jayden had changed her.

It had only been three months since her marriage to Jayden. Had she really forgotten their three years together in such a short time? Theo struggled to reconcile this change.

"You've developed a sharp temper, Elyse. You should work on that," Theo remarked with a hint of malice.

Elyse snorted. "Why should I listen to you? What right do you have to demand that I change?"

Taken aback by her defiance—she had once been so compliant—Theo felt a surge of displeasure. Elyse, feeling irked, sat on the sofa and declared, "I'm hungry. Let's eat."

Reading her intentions, Theo commented, "You plan to leave right after the meal, don't you?"

Elyse shook her head, offering a contrived smile. "No, I take this meeting seriously." "The meal isn't ready yet," Theo added, glancing toward the busy chef in the kitchen.

Elyse wasn't lying; she was hungry. She surveyed the room, noticing some berries on a plate. Pointing at them, she looked questioningly at Theo. He gestured for her to help herself. After thanking him, Elyse began eating the berries.

Mid-bite, Theo posed his question: "When did you fall in love with me?"

Choking on the fruit, Elyse coughed violently. After catching her breath, she looked at him with disbelief. "Is that really why you asked me to come here?"

Theo nodded. "If you truly loved me, how could you so quickly develop feelings for someone else? You never really loved me, did you?"

Elyse rolled her eyes. "Theo Ward, consider how I treated you in the past. I gave you love, care, and never disappointed you, right?"

Theo reflected carefully. During their time together, he couldn't recall any significant problems. "You should know whether I loved you or not," he said.

Elyse, frustrated, responded, "Don't ask such foolish questions again. You've never loved me. While you were with me, you were always looking after Kaelyn. Why didn't you just date her?"

Theo frowned. "I've told you many times I was kind to Kaelyn out of gratitude, not love."

"Gratitude? You're willing to do anything for her," Elyse retorted, unconvinced. This topic had often led to arguments between them. Unable to tolerate it further, Theo exclaimed, "Remember when we were camping on a hill and encountered a mudslide? Kaelyn carried me all the way down the hill," he added, feeling helpless. "Kaelyn saved my life. I can't just abandon her."

Upon hearing this, Elyse's face took on a peculiar expression. Shaking with emotion, she yelled, "It was I who carried you down that damned hill!"

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