?<strong>Chapter 461:</strong>


    Pearce had left, yet the turmoil he stirred remained. Elyse avoided Jayden’s gaze, insisting, “Pearce isn’t who you think. There’s surely a reason behind his actions.”


    Seated in the wheelchair, Jayden gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles whitening.


    An expressionless chuckle escaped him, sending a shiver through Elyse.


    She could sense his anger and reached out to grasp his hand, her voice trembling, “Please, let’s not fight. You’re in your wheelchair, and you might get hurt if the two of you fight.”


    “Were you worried I’d lose?” Jayden asked, his lips tightening.


    Elyse, unsettled by his cold tone, was at a loss for words.


    Observing her slight tremble, Jayden softened slightly. “Are you scared of me?”


    Elyse shook her head, unable to articte her mixed emotions or how things had escted to this point.


    Despite his care for her, Jayden felt her fear as ingratitude. Frustrated, he entered another elevator that had just arrived.


    Elyse hurried after him but was left behind as the doors shut, his expression unreadable and cold.


    “Baby, your dad now despises me,” Elyse murmured to herself, copsing to the floor in despair.


    In the hospital ward, Peyton overheard her sobbing. He hobbled to the ward’s entrance on his crutch and found Elyse distraught.


    “Elyse, why are you still here? Didn’t you go with Jayden?”


    Elyse shook her head, burying her face in her hands, tears streaming down her face.


    “And where’s Jayden? Why would he leave you like this after an argument? That’s insane!” Peyton leaned against the wall, urgently dialing Jayden’s number.


    Meanwhile, Jayden, filled with remorse, paused in the hospital’s main hall. Torn between returning and leaving, he was uncertain of his next move.


    Soon after, he received a call from Peyton. He hesitated to answer, reflecting a deep frown. Clearly, he thought Elyse should havee to apologize first.


    Jayden ignored the call initially.


    Only after Peyton rang again did he pick up reluctantly.


    Peyton’s voice boomed through the phone before Jayden could even speak. “Your wife is here crying. What kind of man leaves his wife like this? Don’t you care about her anymore? Come get her, or we’re done as friends.”


    After Peyton hung up, Jayden paused to collect his thoughts, then headed towards the elevator.


    Upon exiting the elevator, Jayden found Elyse crying on the floor. He let out a heavy sigh.


    “Jayden, are you seriously leaving your wife alone like this?” Peyton was furious, his anger palpable. Was Jayden out of his mind? Why must he upset his wife who loved him deeply?


    Peyton yelled, “Apologize to her and take her home. Otherwise, make sure you regret it by introducing her to all my male friends!”


    Jayden stepped from the elevator, ring at Peyton for his excessive words.


    He then turned to Elyse, his tone cold, “Why are you crying? Didn’t you stand by your actions? You defended that guy.”


    Elyse, tears flowing, replied shakily, “You got me wrong, I didn’t defend Pearce. I just thought maybe there was a misunderstanding, so I let him go.”


    Looking up with tear-filled eyes, she pleaded, “So, you hate me now? Don’t you want to be with me anymore?”


    Jayden’s expression softened slightly. “What? No, I never thought that. You’re just being too emotional, and it’s not helping.”


    As they spoke, Elyse felt an increasing distance growing between them, her tears unabated.


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