Chapter 46:

"Then you should go," said Jayden. Elyse impulsively reached over and clasped his pinky. "Thank you, Jayden. You're incredibly kind."

She had feared he might object, since she was meeting her ex-boyfriend's mother. His nonchalant response surprised her. Jayden grinned mischievously. "You've got two hours. If you come back late, you might find yourself sleeping at the doorstep tonight."

Rolling her eyes, Elyse knew he couldn't be that magnanimous. "Alright, don't dawdle," Jayden teased. "If you stick around any longer, I might change my mind."

Without further ado, Elyse darted out of the study. As soon as she was out of earshot, Jayden straightened in his wheelchair, rubbing his sore buttocks. "She's becoming more daring by the day."

After saying goodbye to Driscoll, Elyse slipped on her shoes and headed to the appointed address. Upon arriving at the parking garage, she unexpectedly encountered Zandra, who had just parked her car. The sudden encounter created an awkward atmosphere.

However, Zandra quickly regained her composure and remarked, "Bentley Continental GT, huh? Can you afford that now? Seems like you're doing better than I expected."

Noticing the implied disdain, Elyse countered without hesitation. "This isn't even one of our top cars, Mrs. Ward. Seems like your judgment hasn't evolved much—still judging a book by its cover."

As the elevator doors opened, Zandra strode ahead, leaving Elyse behind. "Are you still holding a grudge about how I viewed you before? Well, I still do; I still look down on you and your family," she remarked.

"Then who do you hold in high regard? Your son?" Elyse quipped. After a moment's pause, she added, "If he hadn't been born into the Ward family, he'd be rather average, particularly in his handling of things. Maybe his upbringing and environment have influenced him."

Zandra turned to give Elyse an uncommonly sharp glance. "It seems you've grown sharper since we last met."

Entering a restaurant together, they were seated at a table by the window. Once they'd placed their orders, Zandra took a sip of water and asked, "Do you know why I asked you here?"

"I don't, but I'm certain it's not for a stroll down memory lane," Elyse replied, shaking her head.

"I've always thought highly of your self-awareness. You're much better than your father, who's only concerned with money," Zandra remarked after a moment's pause. "But that's not enough. Your family lacks wealth, making you unsuitable for my son. Frankly, when he first introduced you to us, I was shocked. How could he be with someone so ordinary?"

Elyse remained silent. Zandra clearly held her family's lack of wealth against her.

"Although I don't approve of you marrying my son, I regret how your relationship ended. But it seems you've landed on your feet. I hear you've married into the Owen family," Zandra remarked idly, swirling her fingertip in her water glass.

As Zandra polished the glass, Elyse sensed the underlying motive. She understood she wasn't valuable to Zandra, but the allure of the Owen family and Jayden was undeniable.

"Mrs. Ward, what's on your mind? Do you need something from me?" Elyse inquired.

"No, you can't help me. Your husband is just a discarded member of the Owen family. Nevertheless, you lucked out by marrying him. Your father must be thrilled," Zandra retorted sharply, tapping her fingers on the table. "But I must remind you, now that you're married, refrain from any scandalous behavior. Stay away from my son."

"Am I hearing this correctly? Are you suggesting I've been bothering your son?" Elyse found the accusation absurd.

"You know exactly what you've been up to," Zandra insisted.

"I don't. I've cut off all contact with him," Elyse countered, a smile playing on her lips. "But even if it's not me, there's another woman around him, Mrs. Ward. I know you've always been focused on securing a suitable match for Theo. You aim to elevate your family through his marriage. Yet there's always been another woman in his life. She sabotaged my wedding with him, and she could do it again with his next marriage. Are you willing to have such a ticking time bomb around your son?"

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