Chapter 407

After a lengthy conversation, Tracy drifted off to sleep, exhausted. Elyse gently slipped out of bed, draped a blanket over Tracy, and quietly left the room. In the living room, Driscoll, sporting a bandage on his head, expressed his concern. "How is Miss Bernard?"

"She's resting now. Thank you for your help today," Elyse responded, nodding gratefully. "I'm hopeful she'll feel better tomorrow."

Jayden set aside the book he was reading. "Shaun has left, but he purchased a villa nearby. It looks like he plans to stay in the area for quite some time."

Just as Elyse settled onto the sofa and reached for a glass of water, Jayden's words caught her off guard. "Has he lost his mind? What is he trying to achieve?"

Jayden shrugged. "I'm not sure. If you're curious, ask him. Maybe he's intent on winning Tracy back."

Elyse fixed Jayden with a skeptical look. "Do you think he's genuine?"

"Whether he is or not, Tracy is the one who will end up hurt," Jayden said. Chewing her lip, Elyse realized that Shaun's decision to buy a nearby house signified he wasn't ready to let go of Tracy, who couldn't remain hidden forever.

After a moment of contemplation, she decided she needed to confront Shaun. Sitting next to Jayden, she asked cautiously, "Would you come with me to see Shaun? I need to speak with him."

Jayden frowned. "What are you planning to discuss?"

"I need to convince him to leave. Tracy is starting anew," Elyse explained earnestly.

Jayden looked at her for a long moment. "I doubt he'll listen. He even demolished our iron gate just to see Tracy."

Elyse's hope waned. "So what are we supposed to do? Is Tracy supposed to hide indefinitely? She's just begun to carve out her own path."

"He's unlikely to be receptive right now," Jayden pointed out. "For now, it's best if Tracy stays out of sight." With a heavy heart, Elyse conceded.

The next morning, as she prepared to head to the studio for violin practice, she invited Tracy to join her. Traumatized by the previous day's events, Tracy remained hidden under her blanket. "No, thank you. I'm good here. Just leave me alone," she murmured.

Realizing Tracy was withdrawing further, Elyse felt a mix of sorrow and helplessness. After breakfast, she left for the studio alone.

That afternoon, her phone rang. It was Glenda. Her voice was stiff as she spoke. "Elyse, Habel has been released from prison. We're celebrating at home. Will you join us for dinner?"

The invitation caught Elyse off guard. Without a second thought, she declined firmly. "I'm afraid I can't make it. I'm swamped lately. Congratulations, though."

Glenda's tone shifted to a coaxing one as she sensed Elyse's reluctance. "I've missed you. It's been so long, and this is a rare chance for us all to gather. I insist."

"It wouldn't be right for me to come back now," Elyse replied, ending the call abruptly before Glenda could respond. She wasn't ready to confront Glenda or Lanny, not now, not yet.

In the kitchen, Fiona was brewing tea when she noticed Elyse's gloomy demeanor. "What's wrong? You seem upset."

"It's nothing. Don't worry about me," Elyse dismissed with a shake of her head.

Fiona offered a gentle distraction. "Why don't you join me for tea? It might cheer you up."

"Thank you, Fiona. I always love the tea you make," Elyse responded, her mood lifting as she embraced Fiona warmly.

"If you enjoy it that much, I'd happily make it for you every day, though I fear you might grow tired of it," Fiona said with a chuckle.

"Never," Elyse assured her. "I could drink it for a lifetime."

Irving passed by and caught their tender moment, cringing playfully. "That's kind of sickening," he teased, grabbing a sandwich and striding away.

"You thief! Fiona didn't say it was for you!" Elyse called after him in mock indignation.

"So? What are you going to do about it?" Irving laughed, his voice trailing off.

Gavin approached with a serious tone, breaking into their lighthearted exchange. "Focus on resting. You've got a competition in two days. You can't afford any distractions."

"We'll make it into the top ten," Fiona said confidently.

Gavin, ever the realist, pressed them. "Do you think it's that easy to just decide you'll succeed?"

...