Chapter 1181:

Amanda blocked their path, her face marked by suspicion. “Hey! Who gave you permission to enter his room? Did he approve? You can’t just walk in here.”

Peyton, exasperated with Amanda’s unreasonable behavior, countered sharply, “Elyse and Jayden are legally married. Who are you to stop her? Remember, you’re just a mercenary. You have no right to meddle in their personal affairs.”

After his rebuttal, Peyton ushered Elyse toward the base. Once inside the room, Elyse pointed out to Peyton, “We were legally married. You need to be more precise with your words.”

Peyton heard the exchange and seemed poised to speak, but after a pause, he closed his mouth, silence settling over him like a calm before a storm.

Elyse caught the flicker of unease in his expression, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. “What is it? Are you hiding something from me again?” she asked, her tone edged with accusation.

“No! Absolutely not!” Peyton’s voice rose defensively. “You have to trust me!”

Elyse raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing him closely, the weight of doubt lingering in the air. After a tense moment, she reluctantly sighed. His eyes, unwavering and sincere, seemed to melt her resolve.

“Alright,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “But just this once. If I catch you in a lie later…” She drew her hand across her neck in a slicing gesture, leaving the threat unsaid but painfully clear.

Peyton’s shoulders slumped slightly, and with a weak smile, he lowered his head in submission. “You have nothing to worry about. I’d betray Jayden before I’d betray you,” he promised.

With a small nod, Elyse let out a breath. “Fine,” she relented, finally loosening her grip on the tension.

Peyton made a move to stand, eager to change the subject, but Elyse’s voice cut through the air before he could step away. “Wait. Don’t leave just yet.”

Peyton hesitated, eyeing her cautiously. “What is it?” he asked, his voice tinged with wariness.

Elyse’s voice was cool, yet simmering with curiosity. “What’s going on with Amanda? You haven’t explained that to me yet.”

The question hung heavily between them. Amanda’s obvious hostility had gnawed at Elyse’s mind—was it jealousy, fueled by her connection to Jayden, that made Amanda lash out? Elyse’s thoughts swirled. Peyton faltered, his expression tightening.

Elyse was unimpressed, her patience wearing thin. “Seriously? You won’t even give me a straight answer about this? Where’s all that loyalty you just boasted about? Did it vanish into thin air?”

Peyton rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. “I thought it’d be better if Jayden explained everything about her himself.”

Elyse scoffed, her irritation bubbling over. “Better? Don’t kid yourself. If I ask him, he’d just brush it off or dodge the question. You really expect him to explain anything about her?”

Peyton chewed on his lip, then sighed in resignation. “Alright, alright. I’ll fill you in.”

He walked over to the window, peering down with an air of unease. Amanda was standing below, her gaze fixed upward, sharp as a blade. She wasn’t hiding her presence—nor her hostility.

Elyse stepped up beside him, her eyes following his. The moment Amanda’s gaze locked onto Elyse, her expression shifted, a twisted smile forming, defiant and dripping with disdain.

Peyton clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “She doesn’t even try to mask it,” he muttered, then turned back to Elyse. “On the battlefield, Amanda got too full of herself and tried to finish a mission solo. She failed and exposed Jayden’s position, along with the rest of the team.”