Chapter 1000:

Elyse, having just set down her violin case, noticed Edward heading out. “Helping your dad with something again?” she inquired. Edward nodded. “Exactly. Time to enforce some justice.” Theo, curious, asked, “Have you kept up with what Edward’s been doing lately?” “I’m somewhat aware,” Theo replied cautiously. “I’m mainly here to observe, not get involved.” Elyse, deep in thought, turned to Louise, noticing her fixed gaze on Theo. Puzzled, she asked, “What has you so captivated by him?” Louise shook her head earnestly. “I’ve just never encountered a real jerk before. This is a first.” Although it was Theo’s first encounter with Louise, he already felt the weight of her scorn. Reflecting on Edward’s actions, Theo understood they were intentional; Edward aimed to ruin any remaining affection Elyse held for her ex-boyfriend. With a forced smile, Theo remarked, “They say it’s a good quality for a man to realize his mistake.” Louise responded gravely, “To me, a man who betrays me doesn’t deserve a place in this world.” She was clearly not joking. Feeling the growing tension, Elyse quickly changed the subject. “I’m really hungry. When are we going to eat?” “Dinner will be ready soon. I’ll prepare a small snack for you,” the butler offered respectfully. Elyse nodded. “Alright, but before dinner, can we have a private conversation?” Theo nodded in agreement. Elyse addressed the butler. “Could you find us a secluded place to talk? We won’t need the snack.” The butler complied and led them to the study. Once the study door was closed, Theo began, “I saw Mabel at the concert hall. She’s employed there. Can you believe that?” Elyse, who had just sat down, looked up, visibly shocked. “How is it possible for her to work at the concert hall?” Theo explained, “While looking into Kaelyn’s circumstances, I stumbled upon the fact that Mabel is quite close to Kaelyn. With Mabel being around you, do you suppose that—” Theo paused, leaving his question hanging. Elyse understood his implication. Elyse spoke with resignation. “I get why Mabel might hold a grudge against me, but I can’t see why Kaelyn would also oppose me. It’s baffling.” . . . noveldrama