Chapter 344:

Jayden hadn't anticipated Elyse's boldness. They kissed deeply, their breaths mingling, and the air around them warmed. Elyse pulled away abruptly, jumping off his lap and raising her chin.

"Are you clueless? Can't you tell if this is real or not?" she challenged.

Jayden studied her for a moment before curling a finger toward her. "Come here."

She stepped back defiantly. "No way. I'm not listening to you."

The moment she spoke, she saw Jayden's expression darken. Fighting back panic, she plotted her escape. She didn't believe she couldn't outrun a man in a wheelchair.

Jayden licked his lips, savoring her lingering taste, and eyed her with renewed determination. Sensing trouble, Elyse noticed the phone screen glowing on the coffee table. She quickly pointed at it and said, "Someone's calling you. Pick up."

Jayden glanced at the screen, recognizing a call from the nursing home, and answered it. Elyse breathed a sigh of relief, glad for the reprieve, but couldn't help wondering who was on the other end.

After ending the call, Jayden frowned. "It's from the nursing home. That old lady isn't doing well; she's been transferred to the hospital."

Elyse's smile vanished, replaced by concern. "What happened to her? I thought you said her physical was fine."

Jayden shook his head, refraining from sharing details about the old woman's past. "Let's head to the hospital."

Elyse nodded, grabbed her coat from the sofa, and went with him. At the hospital, Elyse learned the old lady had fallen into a coma. Her examination was complete, and they were awaiting the results.

Sitting in a chair outside the ward, Elyse sighed heavily. She had mixed feelings about the old lady, whose words were always perplexing, leading Elyse to consider her mentally unstable. Yet, something inside urged her to believe the woman had been speaking the truth. Lowering her head, she tried to organize her scattered thoughts.

"Here you are, Elyse."

Hearing Glenda's voice, Elyse thought she'd misheard. But when she looked up, she saw Glenda rushing toward her. Startled, Elyse eyed her warily. "Why are you here at the hospital?"

Glenda's cheerful expression crumbled as her eyes welled up with tears. In a sorrowful tone, she said, "Your sister was mentally unstable at the police station and tried to kill herself by banging her head against the wall. She's been rushed to the hospital." After a brief pause, she continued, clearly distressed, "The doctor said she was determined to end her life. She doesn't even care how I'll manage if anything happens to her. I don't want to go on living either."

When Elyse learned that Mabel had attempted suicide, she remained calm. Everything that had happened before had completely shattered her sense of sisterhood with Mabel. To Elyse, Mabel was just another person now. Her fate, good or bad, didn't concern her.

Glenda wiped away her tears, clasped Elyse's hand, and begged, "Save your sister, please. If she doesn't make it, our family will fall apart." Between sobs, she added, "I know your husband Jayden can help her. I'm begging you, please help Mabel." She was on the verge of kneeling.

Elyse reached out to stop Glenda but couldn't. Her expression darkened with pain and inner turmoil. Seeing Glenda cry so bitterly, she understood that Glenda was genuinely grieving. But Elyse couldn't help but think, if she were the one in trouble, would Glenda still kneel and plead for her?

"After the kidnappers took Mabel and me, why did you abandon me so quickly?" Elyse asked in a low voice after a while. This question had haunted her for a long time, making it hard to breathe. That day remained burned into her memory. Whenever she slept, Elyse wondered why Glenda hadn't chosen to save her and what made her less worthy than Mabel. Even though Glenda had always favored Mabel, shouldn't a mother at least hesitate? Instead, after choosing Mabel, Glenda had fled the scene without looking back. Elyse needed an answer or she'd be forever tormented by this question.

For a moment, an unnatural expression crossed Glenda's face. She raised her voice in desperation and said, "Elyse, you have to save your sister. You can't just stand there and do nothing." Elyse's eyes turned red as she stared at her. Glenda couldn't answer and didn't want to; she wanted to change the subject.

Elyse wiped her tears and turned away, her voice trembling with disappointment. "So I'm not worth much."

"Honey, she's awake. Come and see," Jayden wheeled out of the ward slowly. With a calm glance at Glenda, he said, "Let's handle what's important first. Your sister's problem isn't a priority."

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