?<strong>Chapter 783:</strong>


    After cing her order, Elyse chose a quiet corner to sit alone. She had just taken a bite of her burger when Fiona unexpectedly sat down across from her, tray in hand.


    Elyse looked up, confused. “What are you doing? This is my table.”


    Fiona nced around the restaurant impatiently. “There are no other seats avable. Can’t I sit here?”


    Annoyed but unwilling to cause a scene, Elyse decided to let it go. She felt frustrated but couldn’t bring herself to chase Fiona away.


    Fiona noticed Elyse’s re and snapped, “Stop looking at me like that. I’ll leave as soon as I’m done eating. It’s not like I enjoy sitting with you. I can’t stand you either.”


    Elyse snorted. “Good. We’re not the type to sit and eat together, so don’t get too close.”


    Fiona bit back her irritation and continued eating her burger. Halfway through, she suddenly asked, “Are you and Jayden on the outs? Why hasn’t hee to see you?”


    Elyse’s eyebrows raised as she responded sarcastically, “Why haven’t you given up yet? Still dreaming of bing Jayden’s wife?”


    Fiona shot back, “Why should I give up? Everyone knows how I feel about him. Just answer my question.”


    Elyse sipped her c, her mind wandering to Jayden and Aarya. Aarya’s possessiveness over Jayden bordered on obsession. If Elyse revealed that she and Jayden were divorced, Fiona would almost certainly seize the opportunity to chase after him. But if Aarya discovered Fiona’s intentions…


    There was no predicting what lengths Aarya might go to in order to protect her im on Jayden.


    Elyse, with Fiona’s safety in mind, chose not to disclose her recent divorce from Jayden.


    “Jayden’s buried in work, and I’m tied up withpetitions. Just because we’re not seen together much, does that make you think we’re estranged?”


    A shadow of disappointment passed over Fiona’s face. Seeing this, Elyse managed a forced smile and said, “It seems you’re upset we haven’t fallen out. Are you nning to pursue him in our disagreement?”


    Fiona gave Elyse a frosty stare. “Since you’ve already figured it out, why state the obvious?”


    Elyse found it hard to have a nice talk with Fiona. It was as though Fiona had morphed into someone entirely unrecognizable. Struggling to grasp the transformation, Elyse pondered silently why love had changed Fiona so profoundly.


    Distractedly munching on her burger, Elyse was oblivious to the scheming expression that flickered across Fiona’s face.


    “By the way, did Gavin ever mention who thepetitor stirring up trouble during the contest is?” Fiona asked, her tone casual but probing.


    Without even ncing at Fiona, Elyse responded with a hint of impatience, “If you’re so curious, why don’t you ask him directly? Don’t bother me with it; I’m not involved.”


    Fiona persisted, probing further, “Hasn’t he mentioned anything? He’s been on this case for a while now, right?”


    Visibly annoyed, Elyse looked up sharply and retorted, “I don’t care who’s responsible. Why would I inquire? If you’re so curious, go ask him yourself.”


    Fiona gave a strained smile. “Gavin and I aren’t exactly close. He wouldn’t share anything with me.”


    Elyse’s expression turned into a frown. “But you asked him to help you with your practice, right? You weren’t close back then either.”


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