Chapter 461:

Pearce was gone, but the turmoil he'd created lingered. Elyse avoided Jayden's gaze, insisting, "Pearce isn't who you think he is. There's surely a reason for his actions."

Seated in his wheelchair, Jayden gripped the armrests, his knuckles white. A chilling chuckle escaped him, sending a shiver down Elyse's spine. She sensed his anger and reached for his hand, her voice trembling. "Please, let's not fight. You're in your wheelchair, and you could get hurt."

"Were you worried I'd lose?" Jayden asked, his lips tightening.

Elyse, unsettled by his cold tone, was speechless. Observing her tremor, Jayden softened slightly. "Are you scared of me?"

Elyse shook her head, unable to articulate her mixed emotions or how things had escalated so quickly. Despite his care for her, Jayden perceived her fear as ingratitude. Frustrated, he stepped into an arriving elevator.

Elyse hurried after him, but the doors closed before she could reach him, leaving her behind; his expression remained cold and unreadable.

"Baby, your dad now despises me," Elyse murmured, collapsing to the floor in despair.

In the hospital ward, Peyton overheard her sobbing. He hobbled to the entrance on his crutches and found Elyse distraught.

"Elyse, why are you still here? Didn't you leave with Jayden?"

Elyse shook her head, burying her face in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"And where's Jayden? Why would he leave you like this after an argument? That's insane!" Peyton leaned against the wall, urgently dialing Jayden's number.

Meanwhile, Jayden, filled with remorse, paused in the hospital's main hall, torn between returning and leaving, unsure what to do. Soon after, he received a call from Peyton. He hesitated to answer, a deep frown furrowing his brow. He clearly believed Elyse should apologize first. He ignored the call initially, only answering reluctantly after Peyton called again.

Peyton's voice boomed through the phone before Jayden could speak. "Your wife is here crying. What kind of man leaves his wife like this? Don't you care about her anymore? Come get her, or we're done as friends."

After Peyton hung up, Jayden collected his thoughts, then headed for the elevator.

Exiting the elevator, he found Elyse crying on the floor. He sighed heavily.

"Jayden, are you seriously leaving your wife alone like this?" Peyton's anger was palpable. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you upsetting your wife, who loves you deeply?"

Peyton yelled, "Apologize to her and take her home. Otherwise, make sure you regret it by introducing her to all my male friends!"

Jayden glared at Peyton, irritated by his outburst. He then turned to Elyse, his tone still cold. "Why are you crying? Didn't you stand by your actions? You defended that guy."

Elyse, tears streaming, replied shakily, "You misunderstood. I didn't defend Pearce. I just thought there might be a misunderstanding, so I let him go." Looking up with tear-filled eyes, she pleaded, "So, you hate me now? Don't you want to be with me anymore?"

Jayden's expression softened slightly. "What? No, I never thought that. You're just being too emotional, and it's not helping."

As they spoke, Elyse felt a growing distance between them, her tears continuing to fall.