NovelReadingChapter 1296:
Jayden, uncharacteristically silent, finally offered a quiet defense. “I genuinely don’t know why she’s crying this
time.”
“You must have done something!” Pearce’s voice rose sharply. He turned to Elyse for confirmation, but she
merely dabbed her eyes and retreated toward the garden. Frowning at her silence, Pearce released Jayden and
moved to follow.
When Jayden attempted to do the same, Pearce whirled around with a fierce warning. “Stay back, you heartless
bastard!”
Despite his frustration, Jayden held his ground, knowing better than to challenge Pearce when it cto Elyse.
Pearce found Elyse standing motionless beside the fountain, her reflection rippling in the water below. “What
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇthappened?” he asked gently. “Did he upset you?”
Elyse wrapped her arms around herself, her gaze fixed on the flowing water. “It’s not his fault, Pearce. Don’t
blhim.”
“Already defending him?” Pearce asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.
“It's the truth,” she insisted softly. “He’s not to blthis time.”
“Then why the tears?” he pressed, his voice a mixture of concern and confusion.
After a prolonged silence, Elyse whispered, “Today, he finally saw me—the real me.”
“What?” Pearce’s confusion was evident.
“He recognized my ability to handle relationships, to navigate social situations,” she explained, her voice steady
but tinged with emotion. “He realized I'm not the delicate flower he imagined—that I’m capable of standing on
my own.”
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Pearce rubbed his chin thoughtfully, surprised that the self-centered Jayden had actually taken such an
observation to heart.
Elyse continued to stare at the dancing water, her voice heavy with realization. “After all this time, he truly saw
me. | never knew how desperately | wanted his recognition, his acknowledgment, until this moment.”
“Now that he sees you clearly,” Pearce said softly, his tone gentle yet encouraging, “perhaps your wish wasn’t as
impossible as you thought.”
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Elyse gathered her composure before returning to the banquet hall, where Jayden remained, unmoved from his
earlier position.
“Despite the tears | caused, you'll still return with me, won't you?” Jayden’s voice carried a hint of uncertainty.
After a moment's contemplation, Elyse gave a subtle nod. Pearce, witnessing the scene as he approached, felt
his heart shatter.
“Know your station,” he snapped, closing the distance between them. “What gives you the right to whisk Elyse
away?”
“My station is clear—I'm Elyse’s boyfriend,” Jayden declared firmly.
A cold smile spread across Pearce’s lips. “That's not for you to decide. Don’t even entertain the thought.”
Jayden drew Elyse closer, his protective stance unmistakable. “Your opinion holds no weight in this matter.”
“Is that so? And what if | withhold my blessing?” Felicia’s voice cut through the tension as she steadied herself
on her cane, fixing Jayden with a penetrating stare.
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