?<strong>Chapter 475:</strong>


    Elyse had breakfast and then headed to the music studio, where she found Pearce waiting at the entrance. Seeing Pearce, Elyse’s first instinct was to turn around, not wanting to upset Jayden again. But then she remembered Pearce was her cousin. Why should she avoid him?


    Pearce noticed Elyse standing in a daze and called out to her, waving her over. After a moment’s hesitation, Elyse walked over and asked, “Pearce, are you waiting for me?”


    “What else would I be doing here?” Pearce responded, disying the food he had brought and smiling brightly. “I had the chef prepare a nutritious meal for you. This will be good for you to have after your practice.”


    Elyse was surprised by his thoughtfulness and gratefully epted it. “Thank you.”


    “I saw online that pregnantdies crave things a lot and get hungry easily, but they can’t just munch on anything. I wanted to check in and make sure you’ve got some good stuff to snack on. It’s the least I could do for my favorite cousin!”


    Elyse felt an unexpected wave of emotion. It was the first time a family member had shown her any concern. In the past, Lanny and Glenda only cared about Mabel, making her feel invisible at home. Now, she was finally feeling the warmth of family love.


    “I’ll be there to watch your performance tomorrow,” Pearce said, patting Elyse’s head. “I need to get to work now, so I can’t stay with you longer.” He waved and left.


    After watching Pearce leave, Elyse entered the studio. Shortly after, Fiona arrived with her violin case. With a gossipy grin, Fiona walked over to Elyse and nudged her arm. “Who was that guy? You two looked quite close. I even saw him patting your head.”


    Elyse blinked and said seriously, “He’s my cousin. It’s not a big deal for him to do that.”


    Fiona made a teasing noise, a sly smile spreading across her face. “Your cousin, really? Not your lover?”


    Elyse chuckled, shaking her head. “He really is my cousin. You’re reading too much into it.”


    Fiona shrugged, waving her hand dismissively. “Alright, alright. My mistake. Let’s get to practice. The grand final is tomorrow, and I’m beyond nervous.”


    Elyse nodded, feeling the weight of the uing final. The pressure had been almost unbearable these past few days, making her more anxious as days passed. They practiced until the afternoon when Gavin sent them home, insisting they rest. “A few more hours of practice won’t make a difference now,” he had said.


    When Elyse arrived home, she hadn’t even had time to greet Driscoll before she heard Jayden’s enraged voice echoing from the study, “What does he mean? He’s warned me twice already and still dares to threaten me a third time?”


    Intrigued, Elyse moved closer to the study, catching Driscoll’s voice in response.


    “Please calm down. Maybe your grandpa wants you to return to the Owen Group. Why don’t you talk it over with him?”


    Enzo? What had he done to infuriate Jayden so? Elyse listened intently as Jayden’s fury seeped through his words. “We’re beyond reconciliation. Can’t you see? He orchestrated that whole incident. I just haven’t found the evidence yet. He’s got me figured out too well. It’s been over a year, and I’m still empty-handed.”


    There was a pause before Driscoll spoke again. “There’s little we can do. After all, you were brought up by him. It’s only natural for him to know you too well.”


    As Jayden’s anger seemed to subside, Elyse discreetly left the vicinity of the study and made her way to the dining room. The maid, who was tidying up, was surprised to see Elyse home early.


    “You’re back sooner than usual.”


    “Yes, the final is tomorrow, so I came home to rest early,” Elyse exined with a nod. “I’m feeling a bit peckish. Could you prepare some fruit for me? Berries would be nice.”


    The maid’s lips twitched, knowing well that the fruits Elyse desired were always out of season. Nevertheless, she replied respectfully, “Of course. I’ll prepare them right away.”


    After giving the instructions, Elyse strolled out of the dining room and bumped into Driscoll, who wasing out from the study. She put on aposed facade and casually inquired, “Driscoll, you seem troubled. Is everything alright?”


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