Chapter 621:

Elyse lifted her gaze to meet Jayden's. His expression was gentle; his eyes bright as they rested on her. In moments like these, she couldn't help but think that perhaps Jayden loved her deeply, too. But she quickly dismissed the thought. She had been down that road before, and now she understood clearly what she wanted from a relationship. Jayden's current demeanor wasn't it.

She averted her eyes, leaning back slightly and pulling the bouquet closer. "You're home early today. Weren't you busy?"

"I managed to find some time," Jayden replied, sitting beside her and wrapping an arm around her. "I heard Shaun was here, so I wanted to check in."

Elyse played with a petal, her tone laced with confusion. "You came back just for Shaun?"

Jayden pinched her cheek playfully, trying to lighten the mood. "No, not just for him. Are you upset?"

Elyse pouted. "Not at all."

Jayden found her expression adorable. He explained, "Lowell and Dolores are still in Watsear. I'm not sure why they haven't left, but it seems related to Shaun."

Reflecting on past conversations, Elyse said, "You once mentioned that Shaun rejected a marriage proposal from the Ruiz family and came here instead. Did Dolores follow him because she still hopes to marry him?"

"Perhaps," Jayden nodded, his voice neutral.

Touching her chin, Elyse pondered deeply, increasingly convinced that Lowell and Dolores' presence was connected to Shaun. She let out a deep sigh. "Dolores and Shaun are truly tough nuts to crack. I can't even figure out what they're thinking."

Jayden remarked lightly, "If you understood their thoughts, you wouldn't be sighing like that."

At that moment, Elyse heard a sharp, angry voice. "Get out! I don't want to see you anymore!" It was Tracy's voice, piercing the calm.

Startled, Elyse set the bouquet on the table, slipped into her shoes, and dashed outside. Jayden watched her hurried exit with a sigh of resignation, grabbing her coat as he followed.

Outside in the garden, Tracy was visibly upset, hitting Shaun furiously while he stood silently, absorbing the blows like a statue. To any onlooker, it might seem like Shaun was merely enduring a tantrum, but Elyse knew the truth—Shaun was the asshole.

Elyse intervened, pulling Tracy into a protective embrace. "I'm here now. Calm down. I'll take care of you." She then shot Shaun a piercing look. "What did you say to her?"

Shaun's lips were a tight line, his eyes lingering on Tracy, who was struggling to breathe. Elyse stepped between them, shielding Tracy. "What did you say to her? Can't you see how upset she is? Are you trying to drive her mad?"

At that moment, Jayden arrived, draping the coat over Elyse's shoulders. He turned to Shaun, his voice firm. "You'd better explain yourself."

Shaun glanced at Jayden before addressing Elyse, his tone flat. "I told her to come back to Liverton with me. After all, we've been together many times. Who else would have her?"

Hearing this, Elyse's expression darkened. "How could you say such a thing? Don't you realize how much you've hurt her? If you truly want to be with her, how can you act in ways that hurt her?" Elyse's voice was laden with disbelief.

Tracy placed a calming hand on Elyse's shoulder, her face pale, her voice quiet. "He doesn't understand. People like him can't grasp what love is."

She paused, her eyes settling on Shaun with a mix of sadness and resignation. "He doesn't know love, nor how to love. He follows his instincts, thinking that keeping someone close in that way is enough. He believes that if he feels comfortable, that must be love."

Her gaze lingered on Shaun, her smile tinged with sorrow. "But that's not love. It's just hurt."