Chapter 570:

Brook held up the registration slip. "Did you catch a cold, too?"

Elyse glanced at Jayden, who remained silent. "No," she explained. "I'm pregnant. Jayden is here for my checkup."

Surprise crossed Brook's face before he composed himself. He looked at Jayden. "Come here. We need to talk."

Jayden remained unresponsive, clearly unwilling to speak with Brook. Their poor relationship made any pretense of cordiality pointless.

Brook sighed. "It's about Grandpa. Don't you want to hear it?"

Jayden furrowed his brow. "What could you possibly say about him that warrants my attention?"

Brook's expression turned serious. "You need to hear this."

Elyse tugged on Jayden's sleeve. "Maybe you should listen. It might be important."

Jayden glanced at her, concern evident. "I'm more worried about you. You don't look well."

Elyse touched her face, about to reassure him, when Fiona intervened.

"Jayden, if you have something to attend to, go ahead. I'll stay with Elyse and take care of her," Fiona said enthusiastically, taking Elyse's arm.

Elyse tried to pull away, but Fiona held firm.

"I can handle it alone, Fiona. You don't need to stay."

Fiona insisted, "We're friends, aren't we? It's my duty to take care of you." She then led Elyse toward the obstetrician's office.

Jayden sighed and followed Brook to the end of the corridor. There, Brook leaned against the window, pulling out a cigarette and biting it, but not lighting it.

Jayden noticed. "Are you that anxious? Chewing on tobacco?"

Brook glared at Jayden. "That's none of your business. This is your first child with Elyse, right? How does it feel to be anticipating the arrival of a little one?"

Jayden narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you going to tell me about Grandpa? Why bring this up?"

Brook chewed the tobacco. "I've never been married or had kids. I'm just curious."

Jayden paused, then admitted, "It feels amazing, almost unreal."

Brook's expression darkened. "Don't get too excited." He took a breath. "Honestly, I didn't expect Elyse to get pregnant. You know Grandpa never wanted you to marry her. Even after your wedding, he pressured me to push you toward Joanna."

Jayden's jaw tightened. "I know. I hate that you guys interfere in my marriage. You're too meddlesome."

Brook shrugged. "We're Owen clan members. Freedom isn't an option for us." His voice grew hoarse. "I met a woman I liked a while ago. I know we have no future, but I can't help wanting to be near her."

Jayden thought of Jennie, the woman Brook had been close to, even striking Corrie over her. But then Jennie disappeared, and no one knew what happened to her.

Jayden looked at Brook, his voice steady. "Free marriages are a luxury we can't afford. Especially for someone like you, always looking to climb higher. You can never choose whom you marry."

Brook nodded. "Yeah, I get it. But the real tragedy is we're stuck as Owen clan members."

Jayden found Brook's behavior unusually strange. He couldn't believe Brook was opening up like this. Brook had always been Enzo's loyal enforcer, strictly adhering to clan rules. This was out of character.

Jayden said, "I don't think you have anything important to say. I'm going back."

Brook stopped him, his voice laced with unexpected vulnerability. "I used to envy you. I thought you had control over your life, that you married the woman you loved. But now I see you don't truly have control."

Jayden frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Brook's smile was twisted. "Do you really think you're free? You'll never beat Grandpa in Watscar. Just as you know him, he knows you well."

A scream echoed from down the corridor.

Jayden recognized Elyse's voice and tried to rush to her, but Brook held him back.

"Let me go!" Jayden's eyes blazed with anger.

Brook's voice dropped to a pained whisper. "I'm sorry, Jayden. This is Grandpa's order. I have no choice. Just blame yourself for being an Owen."