?<strong>Chapter 180:</strong>


    Bryce protested loudly, “It was just an identst night! Actually, I’m quite brave. It won’t happen again even if I’m scared.”


    Jayden responded with a smile, “Since you’re so brave, you can sleep alone tonight. I hope not to hear from the servants that you’ve wet the bed tomorrow.”


    Determined not to be looked down upon, especially by Jayden, Bryce clenched his teeth. With a burst of excitement, he dered, “I can sleep alone. I don’t need anyone with me.”


    Pleased with Bryce’s response, Jayden told Driscoll, “That’s settled then. You can go ahead and set the table.”


    Driscoll nodded and headed to the kitchen.


    Elyse remained silent throughout but understood that Jayden was provoking Bryce. “Don’t be upset. Let’s go have dinner,” Jayden said, extending his hand to her. His tone was even, neither harsh nor gentle, merely stating a fact.


    In his view, any jealousy from Elyse was unwarranted. After all, he hadn’t provoked it directly. Yet he failed to see that his marriage harbored many unpredictable elements. Elyse had alwayscked a sense of security, where even the smallest incident could unsettle her.


    Elyse gazed at Jayden for a few moments before finally relenting and cing her hand in his. After they had eaten, she returned to her room to prepare for the next day’s selection.


    With the important day ahead, she went to bed early. However, she awoke suddenly at midnight. Reaching out instinctively, she found Jayden’s side of the bed empty once again.


    Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Elyse was about to head to the study in search of Jayden when she was startled by Bryce’s scream piercing the quiet house. “I saw a ghost! Help!” his voice echoed.


    Completely unnerved, Elyse murmured, “Why is Bryce screaming about a ghost again? Could there actually be something supernatural in the house?”


    She didn’t truly believe in ghosts but decided she needed to see for herself. The darkness seemed to close in around her as she moved forward. After a dozen steps, she felt an eerie sensation as if something were following her.


    Spinning around abruptly, she saw nothing and breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to continue, two hands suddenly wrapped around her from behind. Before she could scream for help, arge hand covered her mouth.


    “Didn’t anyone tell you it’s best not to wander at night?” The man’s voice was close, his breath cold against her ear before he yfully bit her earlobe, sending a shiver through her.


    Startled, Elyse quickly realized the man behind her was not the ghost Bryce had screamed about. But who could it be ying such tricks in the dark?


    Unknown to her, it was Jayden who had caught her in the hallway. Jayden hadn’t expected Elyse to disregard his advice to rest in her room. Remembering his earlier instructions, he gently held her closer in frustration. If it weren’t for the important selection tomorrow, he might have taken her tonight.


    Feeling his hands, Elyse panicked. She struggled in vain, eventually growing tired and breathing heavily in his hold.


    “You smell nice. Is that a new perfume?” Jayden asked, his voice calm as he held his wife. The change in her scent intrigued him further, drawing him closer to discover its source. Suddenly, he felt a tear drop onto the back of his hand.


    “Huh? Was she crying because she was scared?” Jayden couldn’t help but chuckle softly. It seemed she was more frightened than he’d thought. How brave of her to venture out alone.


    He kissed her cheek affectionately with a hint of amusement. “Good night.”


    Soon after, a sharp pain at the back of her neck overwhelmed her, and she lost consciousness. Jayden carefully carried her back to the bed, tucked her in gently, and left the room.


    His earlier actions had been a deliberate attempt to provoke Bryce into proving himself. However, Bryce was so terrified by Jayden’s antics that he fled to the basement, a ce Jayden knew he shouldn’t be because of something significant stored there. Determined, Jayden knew he had to bring Bryce back from there.


    The next morning, Elyse awoke feeling disoriented. After a few seconds, the events of the previous night rushed back to her. Panicked, she threw herself into Jayden’s arms and eximed, “Jayden, there was an unknown man in the housest night. He tried to assault me.”


    Jayden, having anticipated this reaction, responded calmly, “You were beside me all night. Perhaps themotion with Bryce led you to have a nightmare?”


    Confused, Elyse questioned, “Was I asleep the whole timest night?”


    “Yes,” Jayden confirmed soothingly. “I held you in my arms as you slept. I assure you, you were safe.”


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