Chapter 612

Mabel sat in the car, staring out the window at the funeral home. Frustration laced her voice as she said, "My mother passed away less than a day ago, and they've already cremated her? What on earth was Elyse thinking? What a dreadful niece she is!"

Kaelyn, sitting calmly beside her, crossed her arms. "Don't let it get to you," she said. "Elyse is trying to provoke you, to make sure you show up."

Mabel slammed her hand on the car door. "Using such a low tactic to force my hand! She won't even let my mother have a proper burial!"

Kaelyn removed her sunglasses and looked directly at Mabel. "Exactly. She's taking revenge."

Gritting her teeth, Mabel asked angrily, "What did my parents ever do to her? Why would she hurt them like this?"

Kaelyn couldn't answer. She'd sent inquiries but received no information. Elyse had kept everything secret.

Their car stopped outside the funeral home. Kaelyn checked the time. "We should leave now," she said.

Confused, Mabel asked, "Didn't you say I could see my mother one last time?"

Kaelyn replied calmly, "Her body has already been cremated. Do you think Elyse will give you the ashes?"

Mabel was inconsolable. The thought of her mother's ashes falling into Elyse's hands was unbearable.

Kaelyn understood Mabel's distress. "I understand you're upset," she said gently, "but right now, you pose no threat to Elyse. She doesn't take you seriously. What can you do except show your incapacity and reluctance to me?"

Frustrated, Mabel covered her face and cried softly. "I'll never measure up to Elyse. I'm such a failure."

Kaelyn comforted her, patting her shoulder. "Didn't you agree to come with me to improve yourself? Work hard alongside me, and in time, you'll be strong enough to take your revenge. When you're ready, demand your mother's ashes from her."

Mabel cried for a moment longer, then composed herself. She nodded and left with Kaelyn.

Meanwhile, Jayden's men, after three days of searching, had yet to locate Mabel. He informed Elyse.

"Looks like you don't know Mabel as well as you thought," he said. "She didn't even bother to demand her mother's ashes. She's more concerned with protecting herself than honoring her parents."

Elyse's eyes widened in surprise. "Could it be that Mabel has returned, but your men haven't noticed her?" she speculated.

Jayden spun a pen thoughtfully. "You think Mabel has managed to evade my men?"

Elyse remained silent. The idea seemed improbable.

Jayden raised an eyebrow and approached her. "Why the sudden silence? Don't want to argue?"

Elyse glared at him playfully and moved away, but he closed the distance.

Pointing to his abdomen, she said, "Want to recover? Stay still. Don't you want to heal properly?"

"Who said you could distance yourself from me?" He gently grasped her hand.

"Hmph! You goaded me on purpose," she retorted.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. Perhaps Elyse's demeanor had shifted because of their child's loss. She was more resolute and assertive than her usual gentle self. Jayden found himself appreciating her newfound strength, and it only made him love her more.

Resting against his shoulder, Elyse felt surprisingly calm. She hadn't expected to feel so serene in his presence.

Did she not love him anymore? She looked up at him. He was as handsome as ever, yet she no longer felt the butterflies she once did. After a moment, she asked quietly, "Will we be together forever?"

Jayden was taken aback but assured her, "Of course, we'll always be together."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, teasingly nibbling on her finger. With a mock-serious expression, he asked, "You don't want to be with me?"

She shook her head. "No, my feelings for you haven't changed."

Though her love remained steadfast, she couldn't understand the lingering weariness she felt.

The ".noveldrama" and extra periods at the end were removed as they seemed extraneous.