Chapter 479:

Elyse's eyes reflected a deep sadness; she seemed to understand Jayden's unspoken words. She fixed her gaze on him, the twelve meters between them feeling like miles. The air thrummed with unspoken truths.

With a tightness in her throat, Elyse whispered, "See? I was right—you don't understand. You've overlooked my love; how could you possibly see my suffering?"

Jayden strained to hear her faint words. Seeing her lips move, he asked, perplexed, "What? I didn't quite catch that."

"I said you can go back now. I need some time alone; I'll return when I'm ready," Elyse replied, her eyes reluctantly breaking contact as she turned to leave. Her solitary figure stood in stark contrast to the emptiness around her.

Jayden's frustration surged, his voice rising. "Elyse, if you walk away now, don't bother coming back!"

His shout reverberated through the quiet; the second floor suddenly felt deserted, as if Elyse had never been there.

Although Tracy had once received Jayden's help, she felt torn but couldn't remain silent any longer. His words had crossed a line.

"Do you really need to be so harsh?" Tracy exclaimed. "Elyse is a person; she has feelings. Can't you see how much your words hurt her?"

Jayden's face darkened, and Tracy shook her head, disappointed. "When will you ever learn?" Without another word, she ascended the stairs to find Elyse.

Meanwhile, Jayden stood still, his heart racing as he felt control slipping away. The walls he'd built around himself weren't just cracking—they were collapsing, and he was powerless to stop it.

Shaun watched the drama unfold with a sly grin, taunting Jayden. "Mr. Owen, you really are pitiful. Your own wife asked you to leave. Looks like you two won't be resolving things anytime soon." His tone was mocking, deliberately pushing Jayden's buttons.

Jayden clenched his jaw and took several deep breaths, attempting to quell his rising anger. Finally, he turned and left.

Shaun, caught off guard by Jayden's decisive exit, called out, "You're just going to leave your wife like this?"

Jayden paused, his silence heavy. Finally, he replied, "She's still upset. I'll return to pick her up once she's calmed down."

Shaun stroked his chin, a skeptical look crossing his face. "Playing the good guy now, are you? What about all that you just said?"

Upstairs, in the guest room, Tracy reached Elyse's door, knocked softly, and opened it. The room was enveloped in darkness. Tracy stepped inside and shut the door, reaching for the light switch, but Elyse stopped her.

"Stop. I just want to stay in the dark for a while." Elyse's voice broke with a sob.

"Okay, the light stays off. Don't worry," Tracy assured her, navigating the darkness until she found Elyse. She took Elyse's hand and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as Elyse continued to cry.

Feeling Elyse's sorrow, Tracy spoke softly. "I thought Jayden wouldn't hurt you like this, but he's clearly upset you."

Elyse shook her head slowly. "It's not exactly hurt. It's just… being with him is so draining."

"What exactly is making you feel so drained?" Tracy asked, her curiosity tinged with concern.

Elyse's voice trembled with sadness. "I can't reach him. He's built a fortress around his heart. He stays inside, unwilling to come out, and I can't find a way in. I've tried knocking, tried to communicate, but he just ignores it, sealing himself away."

Tears choked her voice as she continued, "I've tried everything to reach him, but nothing changes. I've always felt so shut out."

Tracy, stunned by the depth of Elyse's pain, gently touched her head, offering comfort. "Maybe Jayden doesn't know how to open up."

"Sometimes I feel deeply loved by him; he takes such good care of me. But other times, it feels like he doesn't love me at all, like his care is just a habit," Elyse cried, despair clouding her eyes. "He never considers sharing the harder parts of life with me."

Tracy fell silent, realizing the issues between Elyse and Jayden were deep and personal, not something easily resolved.

"What can I say? My own relationship is a mess too. It seems I can't offer much help," Tracy admitted ruefully.

In the enveloping darkness, Elyse's voice was soft yet resolute. "I just want to be closer to him, for our hearts to be nearer. If our hearts can't connect, then no matter how many times we're together, it doesn't feel like true love."

The ellipses at the end are unnecessary unless they indicate a continuation of the chapter in a subsequent section.