?<strong>Chapter 455:</strong>


    Gavin regarded Elyse with a look of concern and inquired, “You seem quite fatigued today. Is itck of sleep or perhaps stress?”


    Surprised, Elyse touched her face and responded, “Do I really appear tired?”


    “Yes, it’s quite evident,” confirmed Gavin.


    Trying to smile through the awkwardness, she exined, “It’s probably due to a poor night’s sleep.”


    As Fiona, carrying her violin, settled on the sofa and began munching on snacks, she offered Elyse a bag of dried shredded squid. “Want some?”


    The sight of the shredded squid made Elyse feel nauseous, though she tried to conceal it. “No, thank you, I’ll pass.”


    Fiona, undeterred, held out a bag of chips. “How about these? You usually can’t get enough of them.”


    “I’ve been off thosetely,” Elyse declined again.


    Puzzled, Fiona asked, “What’s with you today, not eating anything?”


    Gavin looked at Elyse with eyes full of concern. “The final ising up. Is the pressure making you lose your appetite?”


    Elyse managed a strained smile. “Yeah, the anxiety is really getting to me. It’s my first time heading into the final ranked first.”


    Gavin tried to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry too much. Ten of you guys arepeting for eight spots. You and Fiona are sure to get through.”


    Nodding in agreement, Elyse picked up her violin to practice. However, she could only manage half an hour before feeling overwhelmed by an intense wave of fatigue and hunger. The urge to sleep and eat was overpowering. Realizing how irrational she felt, she scratched her ears and cheeks, confused about what to do next.


    Just then, Forrest entered, his schoolbag on his back, ready to tackle his homework and then violin practice.


    Upon noticing Forrest, Gavin inquired, “I heard you registered for the children’s violinpetition?”


    Forrest nodded affirmatively. “I’m going to gain some experience.”


    While talking, he noticed Elyse standing to the side. Recalling his promise to her, he approached her carefully and asked with concern, “Are you all right?”


    Elyse held her stomach and replied with frustration, “I’m hungry, but I don’t feel like eating. I want to sleep, but if I do, I can’t practice my violin. It’s really difficult.”


    Forrest was taken aback by her distress. He offered anxiously, “I have some bread with me. Would you like to eat it?”


    Elyse shook her head. “I can’t eat anything right now. But I’m really hungry.”


    At a loss for words, Forrest wondered silently if pregnancy was always this challenging.


    Noticing Elyse had not been practicing her violin for a while, Gavin approached her with concern. “Are you okay? Is there a problem?”


    As Elyse looked up, he noticed she was crying. Unsure of what to do, he asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”


    Wiping her tears, Elyse was unsure why she was crying. She felt an overwhelming hunger but couldn’t bring herself to eat anything. Additionally, she needed to persist in her violin practice despite her exhaustion. This situation left her feeling deeply aggrieved. Her feelings of injustice washed over her like a raging storm, consuming her heart. “I’m hungry, but I don’t know what to eat. I’m so sad.”


    Gavin tried to be helpful. “What do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you.”


    After a moment’s thought, Elyse expressed her craving, “I want to eat fresh cherries.”


    Gavin’s expression shifted slightly. “Don’t be unreasonable. It’s not the season for cherries. Choose something else.”


    Elyse burst out, more upset, “I just want cherries, the fresh kind, not canned!”


    .


    .


    .