Chapter 473:

Elyse ate with gusto, her speed surprising even herself. Jayden’s childish behavior was irrelevant; the tiny tenant within her most definitely was not.

Driscoll, mistaking her ravenous appetite for starvation, fretted, "There's plenty more. Please, pace yourself."

Elyse fought down the nausea, forcing down another bite. A sudden clarity washed over her. Jayden's opinion mattered, but it wasn't the deciding factor. This child, this little miracle growing inside her—she wanted it.

Driscoll hesitated. "How will you face Mr. Owen?"

Elyse kept her gaze on her plate. "It depends on his intentions. If he wants to be with me, we will be."

"And your intentions?" Driscoll pressed gently.

Her hand stopped. She met his gaze, confusion clouding her features. "Do my intentions matter? Didn't you say Jayden controls everything? If you want to know if we have a future, shouldn't you be asking him?"

A flicker of unease crossed Driscoll's face.

Undeterred, Elyse declared, "I want fruit. A whole plate of it, and make it snappy!" A rebellious glint sparked in her eyes. Just because Jayden said she couldn't eat didn't mean she wouldn't. She intended to eat, and eat a lot.

"Certainly," Driscoll said, hurrying out to fulfill her request. Elyse continued eating, but a wave of weakness washed over her. She slumped back in her chair, staring listlessly at the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Driscoll reached Jayden's study and knocked.

"Come in," Jayden's muffled voice responded. He looked up from his computer as Driscoll entered. "What is it? Refusing her food again?"

Driscoll blinked, startled. How had Jayden known he was bringing Elyse food? As if reading his mind, Jayden scoffed. "If I told you not to provide her dinner, would you actually obey?"

Driscoll felt helpless. "Sir," he ventured carefully, "if you don't truly want to harm her, why restrict her food in the first place?"

Jayden's jaw clenched. "She made a mistake," he muttered, the image of Elyse in Pearce's arms flashing through his mind, fueling his anger. He'd hoped she'd stay away from that man, yet here she was, the very next day, with him again. Did she even care about him, her husband? Did she remember his warnings?

Fury boiled inside him. "Does she even care about me?" he roared, slamming his fist on the desk.

Driscoll chose his words carefully. "Perhaps there's a misunderstanding. She isn't that type of person. We've all seen how much she cares for you."

Jayden glared. "You're still defending her? She hurt me, and I'm not allowed to be angry?"

Knowing better than to argue, Driscoll remained silent. Just as he was about to leave, Jayden stopped him.

"Wait. Give her whatever she wants. You think I'd actually starve her?" His stubborn expression contradicted his words.

Driscoll bowed slightly. "Of course." He exited the study, already picturing a plate piled high with juicy cherries, Elyse's favorite.

Ten minutes later, the fruit arrived. Elyse picked at it. "You mentioned Jayden's parents didn't care for him. Why is Bryce so loved?"

Driscoll offered a bittersweet smile. "In families with two children, the firstborn often bears the brunt of expectations and becomes a pawn in inheritance battles. The younger one, naturally, receives all the affection, living a carefree life."

Elyse frowned thoughtfully. "So that explains Tess's bias?"

Driscoll nodded. "Precisely. Especially since Jayden displayed exceptional intelligence at a young age, he became their golden ticket to success. Bryce, on the other hand, basked in their love."

Elyse frowned. "But then Jayden's leg injuries took away his inheritance rights."

Driscoll shrugged. "The firstborn failed, so they shifted their hopes to the younger one."

Elyse rubbed her temples, sadness washing over her. "The Owens seem cold and ruthless. Everyone seems consumed by their own agendas."

Driscoll spoke softly. "When wealth reaches a certain point, love becomes a luxury, and money becomes the driving force. That's the tragedy of the opulent."