Chapter 203

Elyse looked at Jayden, puzzled by his question. Meeting his gaze calmly, she replied evenly, “When we were together, another woman was always by your side. It’s the same now. I’m not surprised.” Theo’s familiar presence, once captivating, now barely registered.

Theo was dissatisfied; he’d hoped for a different response. Taking a deep breath, he said, “I know I was a jerk. But you didn’t need to marry someone else just to get back at me. Aren’t you hurting yourself?”

Elyse shook her head, her voice steady. “You’re wrong. I truly love Jayden. I don’t regret marrying him.” A sarcastic smile touched her lips. “Theo, do you really think I married Jayden to get your attention? That this is all a plot to make you jealous?”

Theo remained silent, his expression seemingly confirming her suspicions. Tilting her head, Elyse’s amusement was evident. “I did love you once. But I grew disillusioned and chose someone else. Don’t dwell on the past. You never valued what we had. You’re always looking back. Do you think the world revolves around you?”

Her words struck Theo deeply. After a tense silence, he reluctantly asked, “Why didn’t you ever mention saving me? If you had, I would have asked Kaelyn, and I’d know who was lying.”

Elyse pressed her lips together, clearly contemptuous. She spoke slowly, “Because that memory belongs to both of us. On that desperate night, we clung to each other for warmth, unsure if we’d see tomorrow. Whether I mentioned it or not, we both knew what we meant to each other.” A mix of self-mockery and sadness colored her smile. “But I was too naive.”

Theo clenched his fists, his frustration apparent. He’d been feverish and half-conscious that rainy night, unable to clearly see her face. But he remembered the feelings—the heartbeat, the warmth. His gaze on Elyse was complex. “Is this really how it ends?”

Elyse scoffed. “What else did you expect? Take care of that girl. She seems better than Kaelyn. Just don’t make the same mistakes again.”

Pushing him away, Elyse strode off determinedly. Theo remained rooted to the spot, watching her go. For a brief moment, he feared she was truly leaving him, a thought that left him scared and alienated.

A beautiful woman approached him slowly in high heels. “Theo, I saw that woman leave, so I came over,” she said.

Noticing his pale face and sweat, she expressed concern. “Are you okay?” She reached into her purse, produced a handkerchief, and attempted to dab his forehead.

“I’m fine, Miss Jimenez. Don’t worry,” Theo declined her offer.

Astonishment flickered across Freda’s face. She vividly remembered Theo holding the other woman’s wrist, his expression showing no reluctance. With the memory fresh, she asked, “Is that girl a friend? She seemed upset. Did you two have a disagreement?”

Theo paused, massaged his forehead, and replied wearily, “Yes, we had a disagreement.”

Freda chose not to probe further. Smiling, she suggested, “I’m quite hungry. Could you take me to dinner?”

“Sorry, I’ll take you there now,” Theo responded. He had a mission. His mother, Zandra, wanted him to marry Freda Jimenez, believing an alliance with the Jimenez family would benefit the Ward family business. Freda was Zandra’s ideal daughter-in-law: well-educated, gentle, and kind, with a reliable family. Zandra often remarked that Freda was vastly superior to Elyse, who came from a more modest background.

A pang struck Theo’s heart. Logically, he should be thrilled with Freda, yet his thoughts invariably drifted to Elyse.

The ellipses at the end are unnecessary unless there's more to the chapter.