?<strong>Chapter 716:</strong>


    About half an hourter, the traffic finally started to move. As they neared the restaurant, Elyse turned to Jayden and gave him a firm p.


    Jayden stirred awake, groggy and disheveled, his hair all over the ce. Still half-asleep and confused, Jayden instinctively nuzzled against Elyse’s neck,pletely forgetting that they had been at odds.


    Feeling Jayden’s warm breath against her neck made Elyse’s body go numb. She stiffened and, after a few seconds, said angrily, “Jayden, if you do that again, I’ll p you again.”


    Jayden slowly woke up, and upon realizing what he had done, he withdrew and smoothed his hair with a nonchnt air, “It wasn’t evenfortable. Don’t think I enjoyed it. I actually felt terrible.”


    Elyse’s anger red at his words. She was so infuriated that she immediately wanted to leave the car.


    Quickly opening the door, she slipped out and made her way into the restaurant.


    Seeing this, Jayden asked, “Why didn’t you lock the car?”


    The driver, feeling slightly perplexed, replied, “Aren’t we at the destination?”


    “Forget it,” Jayden said with a frown as he opened the car door and hurried after her.


    Elyse had already entered the restaurant and was relieved to find Edward and Gavin seated at their table. She jogged over, apologizing nervously, “Sorry, Gavin. I had some issues and went out for a bit.”


    “It’s okay,” Gavin said warmly. “Edward filled me in on what happened. As long as you’re alright.”


    Gavin then pulled Elyse into a seat and continued, “You’ve been gone for a while. Did you eat? If not, you should hurry and dig in. We’ve ordered all your favorite dishes.”


    Elyse’s hunger made her stomach growl. She picked up a fork, speared a sausage, and took a bite. The hot sausage felt heavenly in her mouth.


    Then, she curiously asked, “By the way, Gavin, what did Edward tell you?”


    Gavin poured her a hot drink and replied softly, “He mentioned that you were deceived by a man, cried and begged him to stay, and then chased after him when he refused.”


    Elyse’s hand holding the fork froze. She stared incredulously at Edward, “What a load of crap, I was clearly kidnapped.”


    Edward shrugged and said, “It’s not important. Sometimes, you need to add a little drama to the story, right?”


    Elyse’s silence filled the air, as if time had stopped just for her.


    Suddenly, Jayden appeared, his rapid footsteps echoing through the restaurant.


    A look of surprise shed over Gavin’s face, quickly turning into resigned eptance. He had always known Jayden would find Elyse with his widework, but Jayden’s arrival right before thepetition made him anxious.


    Elyse’s eyes filled with a mix of emotions as they met Jayden’s gaze. “What are you doing here?” she inquired.


    Jayden chose not to respond, simply taking a seat instead.


    Gavin watched him closely, noting how the past month apart had slightly thinned him.


    “Can we step outside?” Gavin asked. He knew Jayden disapproved of Elyse’s participation in thepetition and felt a pressing need to change his mind.


    Elyse immediately voiced her objection, her tone brimming with frustration. “What are you going to talk to him about? He never listens!”


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