Chapter 644:

Jayden dismissed Elyse’s crestfallen expression with a curt order. She was escorted from the garden and back inside, her movements closely monitored by Driscoll. Meanwhile, Morgan and Cody’s attempts to visit were politely rebuffed by the house staff. Jayden had even seized control of Elyse’s phone, effectively isolating her from the outside world. Elyse felt like a caged bird, her freedom curtailed and her spirit dampened.

This suffocating situation solidified a gnawing truth: this wasn’t home. Home wasn’t a gilded cage; it wasn’t a place where she felt like a prized possession.

After a week of confinement, her frustration reached a boiling point. Standing defiantly in the garden’s biting wind, she began to play a sad melody on her violin.

Driscoll, despite his lack of musical expertise, sensed the raw emotion pouring from the instrument. He approached cautiously, concern etched on his face.

“Ms. Elyse, are you alright?”

Elyse lifted her chin, her bow weaving a passionate tapestry of sound. Lost in her music, her notes conveyed raw, aching emotion. Each passing day had further strained their connection, leaving her bewildered.

The final note hung in the air as she finished, her chest heaving. Driscoll, alarmed, rushed to her side. “Do you need a doctor?”

She dismissed him with a wave, taking deep breaths. “No, just a little winded.”

Driscoll felt a pang of sympathy. “Why put yourself through this? Mr. Owen is who he is. He won’t change.”

A bitter smile touched Elyse’s lips. “Do you also think I’m being unreasonable? Jayden showers me with affection and gives me everything I could ever want. Am I asking for too much?”

Driscoll shifted uncomfortably. He couldn’t understand her desire for a divorce, especially given her privileged circumstances.

Elyse’s voice cut through his discomfort. “Does your wife know everything about you, Driscoll? Every secret, every dark corner of your past?”

A proud smile bloomed on his face. “Of course. We tell each other everything. We’re partners, confidantes, a family built on trust and support. We love each other more than anything.”

Elyse’s smile deepened. “That’s what I want with Jayden.”

Driscoll, understanding dawning in his eyes, offered a helpless shrug. “But Mr. Owen might not be capable of that. Must you leave because of this?”

Elyse sighed. “The old me would have clung to Jayden, endured anything. But I’ve changed. I see the cracks in my own foundation now.”

Driscoll, speechless, could only nod.

As dusk settled, Jayden arrived. The strains of music drew him to the garden. Elyse sighed, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

He paused, captivated by the melody. “What is she playing?” he asked a nearby maid.

The maid, unacquainted with music, stammered. “I’m sorry, sir, I’m not sure.”

Jayden didn’t press further. He paused, then asked, “Has she been playing all afternoon?”

The maid nodded. “Yes, she has been practicing diligently, with only a short break.”

“Seems like she’s in good spirits,” Jayden remarked, heading towards the garden.

Lost in the music, Elyse didn’t notice his arrival. When she finished and opened her eyes, Jayden stood before her, his presence a palpable weight in the air. He watched her intently before asking curiously, “What was that piece?”

Elyse offered a playful smile. “I Love You.”

Jayden’s eyebrows rose. “Trying to soften me up, are you?”

Elyse met his gaze defiantly. “Actually, the piece is called ‘I Love You.’”

Jayden studied her rebellious stance, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. “So, even after all this, you haven’t changed your mind?” . . .