Chapter 812:

Elyse frowned, thinking Theo’s actions were over the top. Still, her curiosity about Jayden’s past made her go along with it.

After a pause, she sighed and said, “I’m so sorry, Edward. I have to go with him. But there’s no need to worry, okay?”

Edward’s surprise was evident; his objection immediate. “But we planned a date after the competition!”

Theo, like a proud peacock, paraded in front of Elyse, a self-satisfied grin declaring his dominance. “Sorry, she’s with me for the rest of the day.”

Clenching his fists, Edward turned his shocked gaze toward Elyse. Her face showed neither regret for Edward nor anger at Theo’s brazen behavior. Instead, her expression remained completely indifferent.

Smiling, Theo led Elyse away, but couldn’t resist looking back at Edward, a mocking wave accompanying his parting words. “Don’t bother us.”

Edward’s face was livid, his anger barely contained. He looked quite murderous.

As Elyse settled into Theo’s car, she rested her chin on one hand, staring out the window. “Even though I gave you a chance, don’t push it. I can always walk away,” she said with a hint of boredom.

Hearing this, Theo glanced at her, finally voicing the thought that had been nagging him. “You’re so different now. It’s like you’re not the same Elyse I remember.”

The comment intrigued Elyse, and she turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “Tell me, what was I like in your memories?”

Pursing his lips, Theo recalled their wedding day, the most vivid image in his mind. Elyse had been stunning then, yet failing to spark any passion within him. The Elyse he remembered had been too bland, lacking the allure that ignites desire. But now, she had become so captivating and a little aggressive.

Theo’s eyes lingered on Elyse’s face as he said slowly, “In my memories, you never made me feel desire. But now, just being near you lights an unquenchable fire in me.”

“Well, in my mind, you’ve always been the same, unchanged,” Elyse said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, Theo raised an eyebrow. “Is that why you don’t like me?”

A long silence stretched between them before Elyse spoke. “I did once, but that was a long time ago.”

A trace of bitterness colored her voice as she looked at Theo and added firmly, “Just because I agreed to this date, don’t think you can win me back with memories. Let’s be clear, there’s nothing worth remembering in our past, and I certainly don’t have any lingering feelings for you.”

Curling his lips into a wry smile, Theo said, “Do you really have to keep reminding me not to fall for you? You’ve always been special to me, haven’t you?”

Elyse’s eyes dropped to the roses in her hands, and a memory of their wedding day came unbidden. A touch of sarcasm crept into her voice as she said, “If you had truly cared for me, do you think you would have left me at the altar for Kaelyn?”

The mere mention of that day sparked anger in Theo, but when he looked into Elyse’s scornful eyes, all he felt was a wave of guilt.