?<strong>Chapter 465:</strong>


    At noon, Pearce arrived at Blue Sea Muse Studio. Irving was outside smoking when he noticed Pearce approaching. Raising an eyebrow, Irving blocked his path, asking, “Who are you? What do you want here?”


    Pearce, not recognizing Irving, asked politely, “Is Elyse Lloyd here? I’m a friend and would like to see her.”


    “Now?” Irving questioned, frowning with a cigarette between his lips. “She went to get some snacks but should be back soon. Try the intersection over there. You might catch her.”


    Pearce followed Irving’s direction, thanking him before setting off.


    He searched but didn’t find her. Then he heard someone retching nearby.


    Following the sound, he found Elyse by a trash can, vomiting.


    Slowly approaching, he heard her muttering, “Why did Fiona wear that awful perfume today? I really can’t stand it.”


    “Elyse? What’s wrong? Did you eat something bad?” Pearce asked, concerned.


    Startled, Elyse looked up and immediately remembered the previous day’s events.


    “Why are you here?” she demanded. Wary of a repeat of yesterday, Elyse stepped back. She didn’t want another hug with Pearce.


    Despite his excitement at seeing her, Pearce restrained himself, not wanting to scare her.


    “Just stay there. Don’te any closer,” she said, stepping back further.


    Pearce, feeling hurt, replied, “Why don’t you want me near you? I don’t intend to harm you.”


    “What do you want? I need to get back to my violin practice,” Elyse said.


    Trying to stay calm, Pearce said, “Okay, just take it easy. I have something to show you.”


    He pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to her.


    Elyse read the paternity test results carefully. Looking up, in confusion, she asked, “What does this mean? Is this true?”


    Pearce nodded firmly and took a step closer, exining, “When I first saw you, I had doubts about your identity. You mentioned having parents, so I didn’t question further. It wasn’t until you revealed they weren’t your biological parents that I started to think you might be the person I was searching for.”


    Seeing the confusion on Elyse’s face, Pearce continued excitedly, “I couldn’t find any direct link to your biological parents, so I had to prove it another way. Do you remember when I plucked a hair out of your head?”


    Elyse nodded, recalling the incident and resenting him for it.


    “You are my cousin!” Pearce eximed. “I’ve been looking for you. You’re part of my family!”


    Elyse stood motionless, unable to process the shock.


    Pearce’s eyes turned red as he pressed on, “Your father is my uncle. He ran away from home and we lost contact with him. You are his only child, the daughter of my uncle Rickey!”


    After a long silence, Elyse finally asked, “Rickey? Is he Rickey Owen?”


    Pearce asked, “How do you know his middle name? Actually, his full name is Ricky Owen Benson. The Benson family is prominent in Cambape. You are a part of us.”


    Elyse was speechless. She had always seen Pearce as a friend, but now he was iming to be her cousin, and she suddenly had numerous rtives. It was overwhelming.


    Understanding her shock, Pearce gave her a moment to absorb the news.


    Then he remembered something crucial and approached her again. “You need toe back with me to meet your family members,” he urged.


    Elyse instinctively pulled away, saying in a daze, “I can’t go with you.”


    Pearce was baffled. “Why? The Lloyds are awful. Do you still miss them?”


    “It’s not about them,” Elyse replied, her voice soft but resolute. She wanted to stay because of her unborn baby.


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