?<strong>Chapter 494:</strong>
Tracy peered swiftly at the driver, who had copsed onto the driver’s seat.
“Let’s go to the hospital,” she dered. Redirecting her gaze, she guided Elyse toward the ambnce.
Elyse perched helplessly in the ambnce, her hands raised aimlessly. She attempted to grasp Jayden’s hand multiple times, yet hesitated each time.
The reality of the situation seemed unbelievable to her, especially the thought of Jayden in aa.
Sitting motionlessly, tears cascaded down her cheeks. “How could he be hurt so badly? Didn’t he feel any pain when he came to me?” she murmured, seeking answers that remained elusive.
Noticing Elyse’s despondence, Tracy consoled her. Embracing her friend, she reassured, “He’ll recover. Don’t frighten yourself.”
Elyse, leaning on Tracy, began to weep softly.
Upon their arrival at the hospital, the medical team, already informed, briskly wheeled Jayden toward surgery.
Elyse, moving too swiftly, copsed heavily to the floor.
Startled, Tracy eximed with concern, “My! You’re with a child. Take better care of yourself.”
Elyse, safeguarding her abdomen as she hastened to follow the medical team, biting her lip, slowly rose with Tracy’s help.
They reached the operating room’s entrance just as Jayden was being rushed inside for immediate surgery.
Tracy settled Elyse into a bench before pulling out her phone to contact Shaun. She then moved to a quieter part of the corridor.
Elyse curled up on the bench, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her head against the bench’s back. Her gaze was vacant and glossed over with an overwhelming sadness.
Remaining silent, she didn’t utter curses or sobs. She merely sat in quiet anticipation of the surgery’s oue. Tears brimming in her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.
Peyton, recuperating in the same hospital, heard the distressing news and quickly approached in his wheelchair. Observing Elyse’s sadness, he approached silently, consumed by remorse.
“Are you okay, Elyse?” he asked gently. Her voice barely a whisper, she replied, “Jayden’s lost a great deal of blood, and I feel so helpless. What if we lose him? What will I do then?”
Unable to watch her distress, Peyton admitted with regret, “I’m sorry. Last night, Jayden, Clive, and I were all at a club when we faced an assassin. Jayden got stabbed trying to protect us.”
Upon hearing this, Elyse lifted her head slowly, shock and disbelief painting her features. Her voice trembled. “Why didn’t you guys tell me sooner?”
Peyton paused, his face a portrait of sorrow. “Jayden didn’t want to worry you on the day of your final. He thought the news might upset you and affect your performance.”
Suddenly, anger surged within her, but she restrained it and questioned, “Then why didn’t he tell me after mypetition ended? Did he attend my event pretending everything was fine just to keep me from worrying?”
Peyton shifted under her intense stare, guilt mounting. He looked down,cking confidence, “Jayden is determined. Once he makes up his mind, it’s final.”
He stole a nce at her, noticing her calm demeanor, and continued, “After dealing with the assantsst night, we took Jayden to the hospital. Despite our efforts to convince him to rest, he insisted on leaving early the next morning because he didn’t want to miss yourpetition.”
At this, Elyse let out augh mixed with tears.
Peyton, unsure how to console her, added awkwardly, “Believe me, Jayden deeply cares for you. He kept this from you out of love.”
Instead of anger, Elyse’s response wasughter tinged with disbelief. “Do you really think that’s love? He didn’t share any details about his activities or his injuries. He chose not to disclose anything to me, even hiding the fact that he wasn’t actually disabled.”
Tears filled her eyes as she pressed, “Is that really love?”
Stumbling over his words, Peyton replied, “Do you know—do you realize Jayden has been pretending to be disabled?”
Elyse confirmed with a nod, “Yes. If none of this had happened, how long would you have kept it from me?”
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