Chapter 574:

Clive's joyful expression solidified into a mask of sorrow. He opened his mouth to console Elyse, but found no words. Finally, he said dejectedly, "I'm sorry. Enzo's men have been obstructing us. I was even in a car accident this morning. When I tried to reach the hospital to help you and Jayden, they stopped me again."

He paused. "It's not just me. Everyone, including your household staff, has been obstructed by Enzo's men. Everyone sensed something was wrong, but no one could intervene."

Elyse's gaze remained emotionless. "Is my baby gone?" she asked again.

"I'm sorry," Clive murmured, taken aback.

Elyse placed a hand on her stomach. Though only two months pregnant and her belly wasn't yet showing, she had felt her baby's presence. Now, it was gone.

After a long moment, she whispered, "It was a girl—a little girl with two braids who loved playing with blocks. She was so good and understanding."

Clive, confused, asked, "How do you know it was a girl?"

"I dreamed about her. She came to say goodbye," Elyse explained, tears falling silently. Her voice trembled. "If I could have delivered her without trouble, my daughter would have been cherished."

Clive hesitated, unsure how to comfort her. Tears welled in his eyes as he continued to apologize. Elyse closed her eyes, biting her lip to stifle her sobs and hide her vulnerability.

After a long pause, she whispered, "What about Jayden? Where is he?"

Clive avoided her gaze. "Jayden is still in surgery. Enzo wanted your child gone, and Jayden too. It's been four hours."

Tears welled in Elyse's eyes. "How is he?"

"I'm not sure, but I overheard that Brook ultimately rescued him. He frantically found a surgeon; otherwise, Jayden might not have made it," Clive said hurriedly.

Elyse laughed, a bitter, ironic sound. "Brook rescued Jayden? Wasn't he hoping for Jayden's death?"

Clive forced a smile. "I don't know, but it was Brook. Without him, Jayden would have been killed on Enzo's orders."

Elyse gazed at the ceiling. "Enzo has wielded power all his life. Even in his old age, he holds significant influence in the city." She felt powerless. How could Enzo tolerate Jayden's disloyalty?

Seeing her distress, Clive hastened to reassure her. "It's okay. Things will improve. There's talk that Enzo's actions have caused unrest among his clan."

"What do you mean?" Elyse asked.

"Some of them learned about Enzo's cruelty towards Jayden and you; they thought it was too far, and there's a disturbance at Enzo's residence now," Clive explained. "It seems some have realized the danger of Enzo's power. They fear becoming his next target if they interfere with the clan's interests. So they're causing a stir."

Elyse said softly, "When the blade isn't aimed at them, they don't feel the sting. Jayden's fate has frightened them. That's human nature."

Brook sat by the operating room door, clutching a phone. Debora arrived, rushing to the hospital. She approached Brook and slapped him.

He remained silent, absorbing the blow.

Through her tears, Debora yelled, "Do you really want to lead the Owen clan so desperately? How could you obey Grandpa's commands? Are you out of your mind? That's Jayden, your cousin! And there was a life inside Elyse!"

Her rage overwhelmed her. "It was a life! How could you do this? Even if you become clan head this way, who will respect you?"