Chapter 452:

"You jerk!" Forrest repeated, glaring at Jayden.

Elyse, bewildered, looked from one to the other. "What's wrong, Forrest? Why are you calling him that?"

Forrest clenched his jaw, his eyes burning into Jayden. Jayden was the man who had gotten Elyse pregnant with quintuplets.

Jayden raised an eyebrow. "Where'd you find this stupid little tyke?"

Elyse blinked. "He's sort of my senior, not some stupid tyke."

Jayden scoffed. "Seriously? He's barely out of diapers." He beckoned Forrest closer with a disdainful gesture. "Come here, kiddo."

Forrest marched up to Jayden and bit him on the thigh.

The surprise was absolute. Jayden was in pain, his body instinctively tensing. Remembering his disguise, he forced himself to relax, gritting his teeth to stifle a scream. Forrest's bite was fierce, drawing blood.

Jayden fought the urge to kick Forrest away. "Elyse, what are you waiting for? Get him off me!"

Elyse, momentarily stunned, finally reacted. She rushed to pull Forrest away, but he continued to shout even after she did. "You jerk! You ruined Elyse's life! I'll get you next time!"

Noticing Jayden's grimace, Elyse quickly clamped a hand over Forrest's mouth. "He's usually well-behaved," she explained with a strained smile. "He must be having an off day."

She then called Driscoll to take Forrest to wash his hands.

After Forrest left with Driscoll, Elyse approached Jayden with concern. "Does it hurt? Should I call a doctor?"

Jayden glared at her. "Why'd you bring a kid home?"

Elyse, taken aback, countered carefully, "Is there a reason I can't?"

Jayden frowned, disgust evident on his face. "I can't stand kids. If he's staying the night, keep him out of my sight."

Elyse tried to appear composed. "What did you see in the bathroom, Forrest?"

"Pregnancy test boxes," Forrest answered honestly. "Are you having babies, Elyse? I'll protect you and make sure you deliver them safely."

Elyse's jaw dropped. How could she have forgotten to dispose of those boxes?

Thinking quickly, she stammered nervously, "Forrest, can you keep this a secret?"

Forrest's brow furrowed. "Why? Everyone should know so they can protect you."

"Because…" Elyse trailed off, her hand hovering over her stomach, helplessness evident in her eyes. Because Jayden hated children.

After a thoughtful pause, she offered a different explanation. "Because I may not keep…"

Forrest's confusion deepened. The concept of losing the babies was foreign to him. "Don't you want them?" he persisted. "Don't you want them to stay with you?"

Elyse stared into his innocent eyes, a wave of helplessness washing over her. The question hung heavy in the air, unanswered. Did she truly want the babies? Should she consider an abortion?

Tears welled up in her eyes, a tangle of emotions swirling within her. This was her first pregnancy, and no one had prepared her for the overwhelming choices she now faced, especially not within the complex dynamics of the Owen family.