?<strong>Chapter 612:</strong>


    Mabel sat in the car, staring out at the funeral home through the window. Frustration was evident in her voice as she said, “My mom passed away less than a day ago, and they’ve already cremated her? What on earth was Elyse thinking? What a dreadful niece she is!”


    Kaelyn, sitting calmly next to Mabel, crossed her arms and said, “Don’t let it get to you. Elyse is trying to provoke you, to make sure you show up.”


    Mabel mmed her hand against the car door in anger. “Using such a low tactic to force my hand! She won’t even let my mother have a proper burial!”


    Kaelyn took off her sunsses and fixed her gaze on Mabel. “Exactly. She is taking revenge.”


    Gritting her teeth, Mabel asked angrily, “What did my parents ever do to her? Why would she hurt them like this?”


    Kaelyn couldn’t give an answer. She had sent inquiries but received no information. Elyse had kept it under wraps.


    Their car had stopped outside the funeral home for a moment. Kaelyn checked the time and said, “We should leave now.”


    Confused, Mabel questioned, “Didn’t you say I could see my mom onest time?”


    Kaelyn replied calmly, “Her body has already been cremated. Do you think Elyse will give you the ashes?”


    Mabel was inconsble after hearing that. The thought of her mother’s ashes falling into Elyse’s hands was uneptable.


    Kaelyn knew what was weighing on Mabel’s mind. She gently remarked, “I understand you’re upset, but right now, you pose no threat to Elyse. She doesn’t take you seriously. What can you do except show your incapacity and reluctance in front of me?”


    Mabel, feeling frustrated, covered her face and cried softly, “I’ll never measure up to Elyse. I’m such a failure.”


    Kaelynforted her, patting her shoulder softly. “Didn’t you agree toe with me to improve yourself? Work hard alongside me, and in time, you’ll be strong enough to take your revenge. When you’re ready, demand your mother’s ashes from her.”


    Mabel cried a little more after that but finallyposed herself. She nodded in agreement and left with Kaelyn.


    Meanwhile, Jayden’s men had been waiting for three days but had yet to locate Mabel. He informed Elyse of this.


    “Looks like you don’t know Mabel as well as you thought you did. She didn’t even bother to demand her mother’s ashes. She’s more concerned with protecting herself than honoring her parents.”


    Elyse’s eyes shed with surprise upon hearing this. “Could it be that Mabel has returned, but your men haven’t noticed her?” Elyse spected.


    Jayden spun a pen between his fingers thoughtfully. “You think Mabel has managed to evade my men?”


    Elyse remained silent. The idea did seem improbable.


    Jayden raised an eyebrow and walked up to her. “Why the sudden silence? Don’t want to argue?”


    Elyse red at him yfully and moved away slightly, but he brazenly closed the distance.


    Pointing to his abdomen, she said, “Want to recover? Stay still. Don’t you want to heal properly?”


    “Who said you could distance yourself from me?” He gently grasped her hand.


    “Hmph! You goaded me on purpose,” she retorted.


    He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist. Perhaps it was because she had lost their child that Elyse’s demeanor had shifted.


    She was more resolute and assertive than her usual gentle self. Jayden found himself appreciating her newfound strength, and it only made him love her more.


    Resting against his shoulder, Elyse felt surprisingly calm. She hadn’t anticipated feeling this serene in his presence.


    Did she not love him anymore? She looked up at him. He was as handsome as ever, yet she no longer felt the flutter of butterflies in her stomach that she once did. After gazing at him for a while, Elyse asked quietly, “Will we be together forever?”


    Jayden was taken aback but assured her, “Of course, we’ll always be together.”


    Then, he narrowed his eyes slightly, teasingly nibbling on her finger. With a mock-serious expression, he asked, “You don’t want to be with me?”


    She shook her head. “No, my feelings for you haven’t changed.”


    Though her love for him remained steadfast, she couldn’tprehend why this lingering weariness persisted within her.


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