Chapter 120

Jayden remained stubbornly silent as Brook smirked. "I never pegged you as affectionate, or so deeply attached to Elyse."

Jayden didn't look up. "Instead of speculating, you should find yourself a wife."

Brook glanced at Elyse, snorted, and left. "I have a meeting," he said before departing.

Once he was gone, Elyse asked, "What did he mean? What does he have to do with Joanna's suicide?"

"He went out of his way," Jayden replied. "There's a connection between him and Joanna."

Joanna had evaded the Owen family's surveillance on an important day, hidden for a significant period, and later appeared at Enzo's house. This required help, and Brook's intervention suggests complicity. Jayden sneered inwardly; Brook was clearly trying to win their grandfather's favor and seize control of the Owen family.

Driscoll approached, looking worried. "Mr. Owen, your mother is calling."

Jayden was surprised. His parents had been distant since the accident, offering no contact on holidays or special occasions. Why now?

He answered the phone. Before he could speak, his mother's tired voice said, "Come home, Jayden. Something happened to your brother."

"If he's ill, send him to the hospital," Jayden responded calmly. "What can a cripple like me do?"

Tess was clearly taken aback. "How can you say that?" she snapped. "Something happened to your brother! You're his big brother! Come home, or forget you ever had a mother!"

Her voice, loud enough for Elyse to hear, ended in a snarl. Elyse whispered, frowning, "What happened to your brother? Why would your mother threaten to disown you?"

Driscoll also asked with concern, "Mr. Owen, what happened?"

Jayden ignored them, handing the phone back. "Arrange a car. I need to go."

Elyse and Jayden drove to his parents' house. As they approached the porch, they heard commotion. Bryce sobbed; Tess and Andrew argued. Elyse braced herself as they entered. A teacup, thrown like a missile, flew towards her, but Jayden caught it just in time.

He glared at Bryce. "If you throw another tantrum, I'll throw you out."

Surprisingly, Bryce calmed, though resentment lingered in his eyes. Tess then turned on Jayden. "How dare you threaten your brother? Who do you think you are?"

She embraced Bryce. "What is it, my baby? What happened?"

Bryce remained silent, turning away. Andrew, exhausted by the outburst, ordered tea and sat on the sofa. Tess coaxed Bryce from his room. Passing Jayden, Bryce deliberately bumped his wheelchair with enough force to almost overturn it.

Elyse steadied the chair. "What are you doing? Are you trying to hurt him?" Bryce merely rolled his eyes and snorted.

Tess glared at Elyse. "What's your problem? He's fine. Don't criticize my son!"

Elyse, aware of Tess's favoritism, started to defend Jayden, but he stopped her.

"It's okay. Don't bother."

He was used to it. Elyse, however, was not, and felt indignant. Then, she noticed a phone inside Bryce's room, screen lit, displaying Joanna's photo. . . .