?<strong>Chapter 570:</strong>
Brook held the registration slip and waved it a bit. “Did you catch a cold too?”
Elyse nced at Jayden, who stayed silent, then exined, “No, I’m pregnant. Jayden is here for my checkup.”
Surprise shed across Brook’s face before he regained hisposure. He looked at Jayden. “Come here. We need to talk.”
Jayden remained unresponsive, clearly not in the mood to talk to Brook.
The two never got along, so pretending to be cordial seemed pointless.
Brook sighed. “It’s about our grandpa. Don’t you want to hear it?”
Jayden furrowed his brow. “What could you possibly say about him that is deserving of my attention?”
Brook’s expression turned serious. “You need to hear this.”
Elyse tugged on Jayden’s sleeve. “Maybe you should listen. It might be important.”
Jayden nced at her, concern evident. “I’m more worried about you. You don’t look well.”
Elyse touched her face, about to reassure him, when Fiona stepped in.
“Jayden, if you have something to attend to, go ahead. I’ll stay with Elyse and take care of her,” Fiona said enthusiastically, holding Elyse’s arm.
Elyse tried to pull away, but Fiona held on tightly.
“I can handle it alone, Fiona. You don’t need to stay.”
Fiona insisted, “We are friends, aren’t we? It’s my duty to take care of you.” She then led Elyse towards the obstetrician’s office.
Jayden sighed and followed Brook to the end of the corridor.
At the end of the corridor, Brook leaned against the window and pulled out a cigarette, biting it but not lighting it.
Jayden noticed and asked, “Are you that anxious? Chewing on tobo?”
Brook shot Jayden a hard look. “That’s none of your business. This is your first child with Elyse, right? How does it feel to be anticipating the arrival of a little one?”
Jayden narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you going to tell me about our grandpa? Why bring this up?”
Brook chewed on the tobo, saying, “I’ve never been married or had kids. I’m just curious.”
Jayden paused, then admitted, “It feels amazing, almost unreal.”
Brook’s expression darkened. “Don’t get too excited.” He took a breath before continuing, “Honestly, I didn’t expect Elyse to get pregnant. You know Grandpa never wanted you to marry her. Even after your wedding, he pressured me to push you towards Joanna.”
Jayden’s jaw tightened. “I know. I hate that you guys interfere in my marriage. You’re too meddlesome.”
Brook shrugged. “We’re Owen n members. Freedom isn’t in the cards for us.” His voice grew hoarse. “I met a woman I liked a while ago. I know we have no future, but I can’t help wanting to be near her.”
Jayden thought back to Jennie, the girl Brook had been close to.
Brook had even struck Corrie over Jennie.
Butter, Jennie disappeared, and no one knew what happened to her.
Jayden looked at Brook, his voice steady. “Free marriages are a luxury we can’t afford. Especially for someone like you, always looking to climb higher. You can never choose whom you marry.”
Brook nodded. “Yeah, I get it. But the real tragedy is we’re stuck as Owen n members.”
Jayden found Brook’s behavior unusually strange today. He couldn’t believe Brook was opening up about these things.
Brook had always been Enzo’s loyal enforcer, strictly upholding the n rules. Discussing these matters was out of character for him.
Jayden said, “I don’t think you have anything important to say. I’m going back.”
Brook stopped him, his voiceced with an unexpected vulnerability. “I used to envy you. I thought you had control over your life, that you married the woman you loved. But now I see you don’t truly have control.”
Jayden frowned, “What are you talking about?”
Brook’s smile was twisted. “Do you really think you’re free? You’ll never beat Grandpa in Watscar. Just as you know him, he knows you well.”
A scream echoed from the other end of the corridor.
Jayden recognized Elyse’s voice and tried to rush to her, but Brook held him back.
“Let me go!” Jayden’s eyes zed with anger.
Brook’s voice dropped to a pained whisper. “I’m sorry, Jayden. This is Grandpa’s order. I have no choice. Just me yourself for being an Owen.”
.
.
.