Chapter 419:

Elyse, onstage, recognized Theo in the audience. He'd come to see her performance. Rushing toward her, he clutched a bouquet of flowers, exclaiming, "Thank God you're still here!" He presented them to her, complimenting her flawless performance and hoping she'd advance to the next round.

Elyse gazed at the pinkish-purple bluebells—her favorite. Before their breakup, she'd wished Theo would surprise her with them, but he'd laughed, dismissing it as a daydream. At the time, she'd felt confused, sad, and profoundly disappointed.

Years later, she realized she no longer clung to that old dream. "Theo, it must be hard for you to remember this," she said, looking up at him with a detached expression.

He was ecstatic; she hadn't forgotten their past. Unable to contain his excitement, he blurted, "I knew you'd love them! They arrived fresh this morning—at their most beautiful, just like you."

Elyse smiled faintly. "Thank you. I do like them, but I can't accept them."

His smile faltered. "I didn't offer them as your ex-boyfriend, but as an admirer. I love your fiddle music."

Elyse pursed her lips. "Theo, haven't I made it clear I don't want you getting too close?"

His steely gaze replaced his smile. "I understand. Do you still intend to reject me? How many times must I be nice before I win your heart?"

With a sigh, Elyse looked up, resignation in her eyes. "You really should consider other options. I'm not the only one for you. You're being stubborn."

Theo adjusted his collar. "Are you trying to provoke me?"

Elyse remained silent, unsure where her words had fallen short. Theo's chilling gaze intensified. "My patience is thin. Love doesn't give you the right to repeatedly hurt me."

"How have I hurt you?" Elyse asked. "Does turning you down mean I'm trampling on your feelings? Theo, can you stop being so unreasonable?"

She was married to Jayden and wouldn't entertain Theo's advances, yet he remained convinced they still had a chance. Elyse fought the urge to shake some sense into him.

Theo's expression grew stormy, his gaze wild, making Elyse anxious. She instinctively tried to flee, but he caught her, holding her close and burying his face in her neck.

Terrified, Elyse screamed, "Let me go!"

He tightened his grip. "It's been so long since I last held you. You still smell wonderful. If I had known, I never would have left you at the altar."

The memory of being abandoned on her wedding day pierced Elyse's heart. Was she about to let him demean her again? No!

In silent defiance, she stomped on his foot with her heel. He yelped, instinctively shoving her away. Elyse stumbled backward.

(The story continues...)

The extraneous website address and the ellipses at the end were removed as they were not part of the narrative. The text was also cleaned up for clarity and consistency in style and grammar.