Chapter 59:

Elyse called Theo in front of Jayden. Theo answered immediately, as if expecting her call. "Why did you call?" he asked pompously.

Elyse rolled her eyes. He should know, but she replied, "I need to talk about my sister."

Theo chuckled. "I figured. What's to talk about? She's your sister. Ask her," he said dismissively.

Elyse gritted her teeth. "Stop playing games, Theo Ward. Mabel told our parents, and they want me to talk to you. You hate this mess, right?"

"Fine. Tell me where and when to meet," Theo said lazily.

Elyse gave him the information and hung up. Shaking her head, she muttered, "He's such a jerk. He acts like he's the victim."

Jayden shrugged. "Maybe Mabel did something wrong."

Elyse frowned. She didn't know what happened between Mabel and Theo, but suspected Mabel was the victim. Hopefully, meeting Theo would clarify things.

"Besides," Jayden added, "you know how much of a scum Theo can be."

Elyse was stunned. She understood the horrors of love triangles, having been in one herself.

Later, Elyse arrived at the coffee shop and found Theo already there. He waved, but frowned when he saw Jayden. Theo had investigated Jayden and knew he was a formerly influential member of the prestigious Owen family, now disabled.

With a smirk, Theo maliciously asked Jayden, "Why are you following her around like she's your mother? No one's stealing her."

Elyse, frowning, took Jayden's hand. "What are you talking about? My husband is here because I asked him to be a witness to the lack of affection between us."

Jayden chuckled, patting Elyse's hand. "I'll give you some space. I'll be over there. Call when you're done." His maturity made Theo look childish.

Elyse sat down. "Tell me exactly what happened between you and Mabel, and why you refused to marry her after taking her virginity. I thought your only problem was a lack of boundaries, but you're just a cowardly jerk."

Theo, without regret, calmly sipped his coffee. "Is that Mabel's story? That I slept with her and refused to marry her? She left out some details. Tell me your version."

Elyse frowned. Theo looked smug. "Your sister asked me to dinner to talk about you. I was curious, so I went."

"You were that curious about me?" Elyse asked.

Theo shrugged. "Not really, but I needed an excuse. I like being a scum sometimes."

Elyse was surprised by his honesty. Theo smiled. "After dinner, your sister wanted to go to a bar; said she'd never been."

"So you took her?" Elyse sighed.

"Who am I to refuse a girl some fun? Of course," Theo replied.

Elyse scoffed. "Then you got her drunk and slept with her?"

Theo chuckled. "She got drunk herself, stained a man's clothes, and ran up millions in damages breaking expensive wine bottles. I paid for it. Otherwise, she might have been seriously injured."

Elyse frowned. "How did you end up sleeping together?"

Theo sighed. "She offered to repay me with her virginity. If anything, I feel used. I could have had many virginities with that money!"

...