Chapter 475:

Elyse ate breakfast and then went to the music studio, where she found Pearce waiting at the entrance. Seeing him, her first instinct was to turn around, fearing she would upset Jayden. But then she remembered Pearce was her cousin. Why avoid him?

Pearce noticed Elyse standing there, looking dazed, and called out to her, waving. After a moment's hesitation, Elyse approached him. "Pearce, are you waiting for me?" she asked.

"What else would I be doing?" Pearce replied, displaying the food he'd brought and smiling brightly. "I had the chef prepare a nutritious meal for you. It'll be good after your practice."

Elyse was surprised by his thoughtfulness and gratefully accepted the food. "Thank you," she said.

"I read online that pregnant women crave things and get hungry easily, but can't just eat anything," he explained. "I wanted to make sure you had some good snacks. It's the least I could do for my favorite cousin!"

An unexpected wave of emotion washed over Elyse. It was the first time a family member had shown her such concern. Lanny and Glenda had only cared about Mabel, making Elyse feel invisible at home. Now, she felt the warmth of family love.

"I'll be there to watch your performance tomorrow," Pearce said, patting her head. "I have to get to work, so I can't stay longer." He waved and left.

After Pearce left, Elyse entered the studio. Shortly after, Fiona arrived with her violin case. With a gossipy grin, Fiona nudged Elyse's arm. "Who was that guy? You two looked close. I even saw him pat your head."

Elyse blinked. "He's my cousin," she said seriously. "It's no big deal."

Fiona made a teasing sound, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Your cousin, really? Not your lover?"

Elyse chuckled, shaking her head. "He really is my cousin. You're reading too much into it."

Fiona shrugged. "Alright, alright. My mistake. Let's get to practice. The grand final is tomorrow, and I'm beyond nervous."

Elyse nodded, feeling the weight of the upcoming final. The pressure had been almost unbearable for the past few days, increasing her anxiety. They practiced until the afternoon, when Gavin sent them home to rest. "A few more hours of practice won't make a difference now," he said.

When Elyse arrived home, she hadn't even greeted Driscoll before she heard Jayden's enraged voice from the study: "What does he mean? He's warned me twice already and still dares to threaten me a third time?"

Intrigued, Elyse moved closer, overhearing Driscoll's response.

"Please calm down. Maybe your grandpa wants you to return to the Owen Group. Why don't you talk it over with him?"

Enzo? What had he done to infuriate Jayden? Elyse listened intently as Jayden's fury poured from his words. "We're beyond reconciliation. Can't you see? He orchestrated that whole incident. I just haven't found the evidence yet. He's got me figured out too well. It's been over a year, and I'm still empty-handed."

There was a pause before Driscoll spoke again. "There's little we can do. After all, you were raised by him. It's only natural for him to know you well."

As Jayden's anger seemed to subside, Elyse quietly left the study and went to the dining room. The maid, who was tidying up, was surprised to see Elyse home early.

"You're back sooner than usual," the maid said.

"Yes, the final is tomorrow, so I came home to rest," Elyse explained. "I'm a bit peckish. Could you prepare some fruit for me? Berries would be nice."

The maid's lips twitched, knowing those berries were out of season. Nevertheless, she replied respectfully, "Of course. I'll prepare them right away."

After giving the instructions, Elyse left the dining room and bumped into Driscoll, who was coming from the study. She put on a composed expression and casually asked, "Driscoll, you seem troubled. Is everything alright?"

The ". .noveldrama" at the end was removed as it appeared to be extraneous.