?<strong>Chapter 453:</strong>


    Elyse was unable to respond to Forrest’s question. She paused, smiled warmly, and said, “I can’t answer you.”


    “Then I’ll keep your secret,” Forrest responded, scratching his head.


    “Thank you,” Elyse said, touching Forrest’s head affectionately. “You are my guardian angel. You’ve really looked out for me today.”


    ttered by the praise, Forrest blushed and looked away shyly. “Don’t praise me. It’s just what I should do,” he muttered.


    “Hey, little guy, want some cake?” Driscoll called out with a smile from a distance.


    Forrest’s eyes sparkled. He dashed over and eagerly epted the cake from Driscoll.


    Elyse couldn’t help but smile as she watched Forrest devour the cake joyfully. She approached Driscoll and whispered, “Why doesn’t Jayden like kids?”


    “I don’t think he dislikes them. He just finds it hard to get along with children,” Driscoll responded candidly, caught off guard by the question.


    “Why does he feel that way?” Elyse asked, puzzled.


    “As a child, he was often neglected, and his needs were unmet.” Driscoll managed a wry smile. “Growing up, he distanced himself from children who showed a strong dependence.”


    With a resigned sigh, he added, “If he never received care as a child, how can he offer it to another kid now that he’s grown?”


    Elyse fell silent, realizing she didn’t know Jayden as well as she thought. He had yet to open his heart to her fully.


    “But you’re here now, and maybe you can bring about a change,” Driscoll said, offering aforting smile as he observed the troubled look on Elyse’s face. “If he bes a father, I think he’d be great at it.”


    Elyse hesitated, unsure whether to share her secret with Driscoll.


    “Would Jayden be happy if I were pregnant?” she asked cautiously.


    Driscoll’s smile widened upon hearing this. “He might not show it, but all the servants certainly would be,” he responded warmly.


    Now that she knew Jayden’s aversion to children, Elyse felt conflicted. Perhaps she should seek confirmation at the hospital. Could all five pregnancy tests be incorrect? She struggled to ept the reality of her situation.


    G a lno v els  is packed with thrilling adventures


    As dinner time approached, Elyse joined Jayden at the table. His expression was unreadable and distant. She broached the topic again, tentatively. “Jayden, would you be happy if we had a baby?”


    “No, I wouldn’t,” Jayden responded bluntly.


    At this, Forrest, who had been quietly eating, looked up sharply, his voice tinged with reproach. “What’s wrong with you? Can’t you be kind to Elyse?”


    Jayden clenched his fists, holding back his anger. He reminded himself that Forrest would be gone in an hour.


    Elyse felt a profound sense of disappointment. Jayden’s curt rejection left her with no room to navigate.


    After a while, Jayden nced at Elyse and asked, “Why have you been talking about kids so much today? Are you thinking about adopting him?”


    He was referring to Forrest.


    Forrest’s reaction was immediate and fiery. “I wouldn’t want a bad man like you for a father!” he eximed.


    Elyse quickly shook her head. “No, I never thought about that. I was just making conversation,” she rified.


    Jayden didn’t pursue the matter further and continued eating.


    Elyse, however, lost her appetite. She nibbled at her food and then retreated to the living room.


    Jayden noticed Elyse’s unusual behavior but couldn’t pinpoint the cause. He assumed she was just in a bad mood.


    In the living room, Elyse clutched a pillow and browsed her phone for a hospital where she could take a pregnancy test. She thought she could go to any except where Peyton worked. After a few minutes, she found a hospital and decided to visit the next morning.


    Despite the positive pregnancy tests, she remained unsure about her condition.


    Meanwhile, Jayden brought out a te of roasted meat and approached Elyse. “You didn’t eat much at dinner. Try some of this barbecue made especially for you,” he said, offering the te to her.


    As Elyse looked at the food, she suddenly felt nauseous. She covered her mouth and retched several times.


    “What’s wrong?” Jayden asked, puzzled and concerned.


    “An upset stomach, I need to go to the bathroom!” Elyse managed to reply before rushing off.


    Jayden’s confusion grew as he observed her flee in panic. If she had an upset stomach, why the sudden nausea? Wasn’t it expected to be diarrhea instead?


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