Chapter 193

Nestled in Jayden's arms, Elyse was too embarrassed to look up. She chastised herself for nearly letting things go too far with him in the living room. She had to admit she was becoming more like him—shamelessly so.

Jayden, with a disapproving look, stared at Driscoll. Frustrated by the interruption, he was so close to a moment with Elyse. Driscoll, though stoic, was sweating nervously. He hadn't wanted to interrupt; he'd even sent the servants away to ensure privacy. But then, unexpectedly, Kieran and Judy arrived. He tried persuading them to visit another day, but they stubbornly refused, insisting on seeing Jayden and threatening to camp out at the entrance if necessary. Unable to allow that, Driscoll felt compelled to disturb Jayden.

As Jayden stroked Elyse's hair to comfort her, he said briskly, "Let them in." Once Driscoll left to fetch Kieran and Judy, Elyse sat up, covering her cheeks. She glared at Jayden and said, "This can't happen again. How embarrassing."

Raising an eyebrow, Jayden teased, "Embarrassing? This is our house. Why shouldn't I be free with my wife?"

His comment made her blush even deeper. As Elyse got up to leave, Jayden pulled her back, holding her close. "Why are you running? Haven't you heard? Judy is here too. Aren't you worried or jealous?"

Caught off guard, Elyse paused. "Why did they come here?" she asked, puzzled.

Jayden shrugged. "How should I know? I can't make sense of the Foster family."

After a moment's thought, Elyse decided to stay. Her curiosity was piqued. She wondered why Kieran and Judy had come to their house. Was it because of Jayden?

Driscoll reappeared shortly, accompanied by Kieran and Judy, positioning himself discreetly in a corner. Clad in a black suit, Kieran remained expressionless, his gaze shifting briefly between Elyse and Jayden. In contrast, Judy, in a white slip dress with her hair neatly coiled, appeared delicate and attractive. Her red, tear-filled eyes, however, conveyed fragility and sorrow.

Upon entering, she softly called, "Jayden." Her tone was sweet yet tinged with sadness. Elyse, nervously adjusting her blouse, noted Judy's unwavering focus on Jayden. Initially reserved, Judy now made no effort to conceal her emotions.

Ignoring her, Jayden directed his attention to Kieran. "What brings you and your sister here?" he inquired casually.

Kieran, clearly irritated but maintaining respect, answered, "My apologies for the disturbance, Mr. Owen. My sister insisted on visiting you again, despite my reluctance."

Jayden, observing Elyse's discomfort, nonchalantly popped a grape into her mouth. "And what's the purpose?" he asked casually.

Kieran, barely concealing his annoyance, prompted Judy, "It would be best if you explained your reasons for visiting Mr. Owen. Quickly."

Judy's spirits fell as Jayden remained indifferent. Tears welled as she struggled to speak. "Mr. Owen, in the brief time we were together, did you develop any feelings for me? Did you ever see me as different from other women, even for a moment?" Her body shook slightly, as if the emotional burden was too much to bear.

Overhearing this, Elyse turned to Kieran, anger evident in her voice. "You're her brother. Is this how you manage her actions? Allowing her to chase after a married man?"

Kieran, visibly upset, replied sternly, "Mrs. Owen, please be careful with your accusations. My sister is not pursuing Mr. Owen. She has genuinely fallen for your husband. She simply chose to openly declare her feelings, rather than conceal them." He added, after a pause, "She isn't making advances; she's simply being true to her feelings."

Elyse looked at him, disbelief etched on her face. She was aware of the Foster family's unconventional views, but she hadn't anticipated their blatant disregard for decorum. While most women would be embarrassed to be labeled home wreckers and would keep such actions hidden, the Fosters seemed to openly pursue another woman's husband, even commending her boldness in love. Once more, Elyse found herself taken aback by their audacity. Sitting to the side, she was speechless.

The extraneous text at the end of the original has been removed as it appears to be unrelated to the story.