Chapter 778:

Jayden, noticing her movement, flashed a sly grin. “Getting handsy as soon as you wake up?”

Startled, Elyse shrieked and recoiled, but Jayden firmly held her, compelling her to look at him.

Confused, Elyse asked, “Why are we in bed together? What’s going on?”

Jayden quirked an eyebrow. “What do you think is going on?”

Elyse took a deep breath, then asked, “Why am I here? Wasn’t I at the Hudsons’?”

“I saved you,” Jayden stated. “Don’t you think that merits staying here with me?”

Elyse looked at him intently. “Don’t forget you almost killed me!”

Panicked by her cold stare, Jayden responded, “I had my reasons. Seeing you at the Hudsons’ was unexpected. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”

Elyse sat up, giving Jayden a steady look. “What are you actually planning? What’s the reason behind all this?”

Jayden adjusted his position. “Do you truly wish to delve into my personal matters? Wouldn’t you rather stay by my side, sheltered and cared for? Why probe into my private thoughts?”

Elyse shook her head. “No, because there’s a barrier you’ve placed between us. We can never truly be one.”

Jayden’s frustration was palpable. “How can you say that just because I keep some things to myself? You belong to me. I can embrace you or have you whenever I choose. You are mine.”

Those words sent a chill through Elyse. She avoided his gaze, focusing on her hands. “Jayden, I am not your one and only, am I? Did you forget the way you spoke to your girlfriend last night?”

Mistaking her tone for jealousy, Jayden responded, “Can’t you see? The words I share with you are the ones filled with truth.”

Elyse felt that all of Jayden’s words were excuses and lies; she hadn’t believed him for a long time. She responded icily, “Perhaps you are being honest with me.”

Jayden was acutely aware of the mistrust in Elyse’s gaze, yet he remained guarded, unwilling to divulge his secrets and plans. These matters were too perilous, and he preferred to keep Elyse in the dark.

Feeling uneasy, he implored, “Can’t you trust me as you once did?”

Tears welled up in Elyse’s eyes. “Trust you as I once did? Do you think your actions now justify the trust I placed in you before? Haven’t you been the one to gradually undermine that trust?”

She continued, emotion straining her voice. “You feigned disability and kept your past from me. You concealed everything. Why do you push me away so persistently? Does my knowing the truth frighten you that much?”

Jayden, visibly frustrated, raked his fingers through his hair. “Is it really necessary for you to know everything? You’re so fragile—what good would it do for you?”

Elyse responded quietly, “I’ve never sought any benefits. My only desire was to be closer to you, to understand your world, to embrace your past—all of you.” She paused, overwhelmed.

Her desires were straightforward—she yearned for transparency with the one she cherished. Although Jayden had his secrets, surely not all had to remain hidden. She believed there must be something he could share.

. . .