Chapter 258:

Without hesitation, Theo nodded. "Yes, I know what I'm talking about," he said. This aggravated Zandra; her breathing grew heavy. "You promised to marry Miss Jimenez," she demanded. "What made you change your mind?"

Theo paused before replying casually, "I must confess, I'm in love with Elyse. She's the one I love, and I can't imagine being with anyone else."

Irked, Zandra snapped, "You love Elyse Lloyd? If that were true, you wouldn't have gotten involved with Kaelyn Bennett! If you really loved Elyse, why did you leave her at the altar for Kaelyn? My foolish son, do you even understand what you're doing?"

Theo opened his mouth, but said nothing. He knew his mother was right; he had neglected, hurt, and repeatedly let Elyse down. Now he faced the consequences. With a bitter smile, he admitted, "You think I'm stupid, don't you? I should have realized sooner. But only now do I truly understand how much I love her."

Zandra snorted dismissively. "Ridiculous. Elyse is now Jayden's wife. You need to apologize to Miss Jimenez, win her back, and make her fall for you again."

Theo remained silent, meeting Zandra's gaze. Sensing his resolve, Zandra slammed her hand on the table. "How many times must I tell you? Elyse is married. There's no future for you two."

"She may be married, but she can get a divorce," Theo said firmly. "Jayden is disabled. Elyse won't find happiness with him. I'm the only one who can truly make her happy."

Zandra's eyes widened in shock. "You abandoned Miss Jimenez to chase a married woman? I can't believe you're my son. How foolish!"

Deeply regretting his past treatment of Elyse and his belated realization of his love for her, Theo said, "I will personally visit Freda's family and explain everything. As for Elyse, please don't try to stop me, Mom. I'm serious about this."

Zandra was outraged. She couldn't believe her son would reject a wealthy, single woman to pursue a married one. "Theo, you're too young to understand true love," she argued. "I doubt your feelings for Elyse are real; it seems more like possessiveness. Perhaps I've been too pushy. Alright, I won't pressure you to find a girlfriend anymore. Just calm down."

Zandra started to leave, but Theo called out, "Mom, you don't understand love."

Zandra froze, looking back in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

Theo remained silent a moment. Initially, he'd suspected his feelings were possessive. Seeing Elyse quickly marry someone else had made him uncomfortable and wanting her back. However, over time, he realized his feelings were genuine, especially after hearing Elyse's intimate details about her life with Jayden. His jealousy whenever she spoke fondly of Jayden confirmed his true love. Her influence on his emotions was undeniable.

Looking earnestly at Zandra, Theo continued, "When I was in school, you told me to choose friends based on their family background and character. You advised me to associate with wealthy relatives and disregard the poor. I chose friends to meet your expectations because you prioritized benefits above all else. But I can't marry for financial interests anymore."

With a cold expression, Zandra responded sharply, "Don't forget you come from a wealthy family. Financial interests will never betray you."

Theo smiled wryly, his eyes reflecting deep sadness. "Exactly. That's why I treated her carelessly. I knew she didn't meet your standards and would never be approved as my wife. I ignored my love for her, letting her bear the weight of my frustrations and disappointments."

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