Chapter 87:

Tracy returned to her parents' home. Elyse, meanwhile, felt weary from the trip. Upon their arrival, Driscoll and the house staff greeted Jayden and Elyse warmly. "Welcome back! How was your journey?" Jayden nodded. "That was impressive. I saw a new side of someone."

Elyse realized he meant her. She touched her nose awkwardly and remained silent, speculating that Jayden might have been rebellious in his youth. Driscoll, unaware of the subtext, simply noted that Jayden and Elyse seemed closer than before the trip. His heart warmed at the thought; he anticipated the possibility of them having a baby soon.

Then he remembered something. "We received a package an hour ago from your friend, Taylor Norris. It's a stylish silver motorcycle—a gift for Elyse. You'll find it in the garden."

His face showed his confusion; he hadn't known of Elyse's love for motorcycles. Elyse's excitement surged. "The motorcycle! My motorcycle! Taylor's such a great guy!"

As she started toward the garden, Jayden pulled her back. In a displeased tone, he said, "The motorcycle has been confiscated and placed in my collection room. You're not allowed to ride it without my permission." He pinched her cheek. "Don't try to outsmart me. If you have the servants help you sneak out, I'll fire them."

Elyse pouted, taking his hand. "But it was my gift from Taylor. You can't just take it!"

Jayden sneered, pulling his hand away harshly. "It's not up for discussion. You have no right to negotiate. Behave, and there will be no consequences." He wheeled his chair into the study. Before closing the door, he instructed Driscoll, "Make me some coffee and fill me in on what happened while I was away."

Driscoll nodded respectfully and watched Jayden go. He then turned to Elyse sympathetically. "Forget it. Don't defy Mr. Owen. The consequences could be severe."

Elyse knew Jayden's temperament. He was determined to keep the motorcycle, her dream motorcycle, and she felt powerless to stop him. She offered a bitter smile. "Don't worry. I won't upset him. But before it goes away, could I take a few pictures? I really adore that bike."

Driscoll couldn't refuse such a small request. "Of course. Take your pictures. Afterward, I'll have it moved to Mr. Owen's collection room." With a heavy heart, Elyse went to the garden.

After taking pictures, a maid approached apologetically. "Sorry, I need to move it to Mr. Owen's collection room now." Elyse caressed the motorcycle and agreed. "Go ahead."

As the maid wheeled it away, she paused at the collection room door, looking back with concern. "You're not planning anything, are you?"

"No, I just want to watch it go," Elyse murmured, her reluctance evident in her eyes. With a heavy heart, she followed the maid into the collection room, filled with treasures.

Antiques, paintings, expensive watches, and various other items filled the space, each potentially worth a fortune. Yet, amidst the opulence, her attention was drawn to a simple pink scarf in a glass cabinet. It seemed out of place, its handmade quality and haphazard stitches apparent.

"Is this scarf part of Jayden's collection?" she asked.

The maid glanced at it. "It's his. It appears to be from his ex-girlfriend."

The mention of Jayden's past relationship pained Elyse. "Jayden had a girlfriend before?" she asked, her voice a mixture of surprise and hurt.

The maid smiled knowingly. "Yes. He was quite the catch back then, admired by many women. He had plenty of suitors."

...