Chapter 483:

Elyse had a restless night, plagued by a persistent unease that left her anxious. She eventually drifted off, only to be awakened by Tracy the next morning for the final competition.

The venue was bustling with people and media crews conducting interviews. Wearing a hat and carrying her violin case, Elyse, in low spirits, followed Tracy backstage.

Fiona, already in the lounge applying makeup, noticed Elyse's pale face and couldn't suppress a flicker of smugness. Feigning concern, she stood up. "Elyse, are you okay? Haven't you eaten breakfast?"

Elyse managed a weak smile. "Don't worry. I'm just too nervous to eat."

Tracy, holding a lunchbox, insisted, "Go change your clothes first. I've brought food for you. You need to eat something later, or you might faint."

Elyse nodded, took the clothes from Tracy, and headed to a changing cubicle. Seated again, Fiona watched Tracy and eventually asked, "You seem very close to Elyse. Are you friends?"

Tracy nodded, pulling a biscuit from her pocket. "I've heard about you. Here, have a biscuit. Thanks for looking out for her."

Fiona accepted the biscuit with a smile. "It's my pleasure."

After a brief chat, Elyse emerged from the cubicle, transformed in a long, slim-fitting black dress adorned with a tulle waist layer embedded with silver diamonds. Each step she took made the diamonds sparkle.

Tracy gazed at her in awe and beckoned her to sit down. Fiona, too, was briefly amazed, but her admiration quickly turned to jealousy and envy. She recognized the dress's high-end quality and craftsmanship.

She reached out, touching the hem. "It's beautiful. How much did it cost?"

Elyse looked down, a hint of pride in her voice. "It's quite special. It's probably worth over a million. The designer sewed the diamonds on himself."

"Over a million dollars! Did you buy it?" Fiona inquired tentatively.

Elyse shook her head. "No, my husband bought it for me." Sadness deepened in her eyes as she said Jayden's name.

Noticing her distress, Tracy intervened. "Come on, Elyse. The competition is starting soon. You need to eat something to keep your strength, or you might faint on stage."

This time, Elyse didn't resist. Encouraged by Tracy, she ate the nutritious breakfast. Unbeknownst to her, Fiona observed with a complicated expression. Fiona had initially assumed Elyse was married to an ordinary man, but she'd noticed Elyse's increasingly lavish attire and the luxury car that picked her up. It seemed Elyse lived a life of luxury, unlike Fiona.

While eating, Elyse noticed Fiona staring. Without thinking, she offered, "Fiona, are you hungry? Would you like some?"

"No, thanks. I was just curious about your breakfast," Fiona responded quickly, looking away.

Elyse didn't dwell on it. After eating, she felt better and decided to text Pearce.

Tracy, peering over her shoulder, saw Elyse texting and blurted out, "Is he your lover?"

Elyse looked baffled. "What? No, he's my cousin. He's coming to watch the competition but is stuck in traffic."

Realizing her mistake, Tracy suggested, "Do you want to message Jayden? It's the grand final. Don't you want him here?"

"I do," Elyse murmured after a pause.

"Then send him a message," Tracy urged.

"But we had a fight. I'm not ready to set aside my pride," Elyse admitted, biting her lip.

Unable to watch Elyse's hesitation, Tracy took the phone. "If you're too hesitant, I'll do it for you."

Elyse reached for her phone anxiously, but Tracy, with her back to Elyse, quickly sent the message.

"Retract it! I don't want him to see it," Elyse pleaded anxiously.

Just then, Tracy received a photo from Jayden showing the venue's stage, revealing he was already in the auditorium. Surprised, she handed the phone back to Elyse. "See? What did I tell you? Taking the first step can change everything. It's not that Jayden doesn't love you. You two just had a disagreement."

She continued, "What couple doesn't argue? As long as you still love him, no conflict is insurmountable. Talk to him about your pregnancy after the competition, okay?"

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