?<strong>Chapter 831:</strong>


    Edward saw his chance and chimed in, “You can’t just spend time with him. You need to stay with me too. You can’t leave me by myself.”


    Elyse clenched her fists, her patience wearing thin. How long would she have to endure their incessant demands?


    After she had changed, Jayden grasped her left hand again. “Let’s go. What do you want to eat? I’ll take you.”


    Edward stood on her right, his wordsced with sarcasm. “Why settle for a meal with your ex-husband? It would taste so much better if I, your future boyfriend, treated you.”


    Sandwiched between the two, Elyse felt as though her head might just explode from the pressure.


    In the hallway, Elyse’s heart skipped a beat as Gavin emerged from the elevator. She scrambled mentally for a way to exin the tense tableau before him.


    Gavin, noting the two men nking Elyse, furrowed his brow in confusion. He approached and asked, “Why are you all together?”


    Gathering her nerves, Elyse responded, “We’re nning to have dinner.”


    The simplicity of her answer only deepened Gavin’s bewilderment. Did their rtionship really warrant such a coordinated dinner outing together?


    Edward, seizing the moment, extended an invitation to Gavin. “Would you like to join us?”


    “Thanks for asking, but I’ve got othermitments,” Gavin declined quickly, his instincts alert to the strained vibes among the group. He made a swift exit.


    Elyse watched him go, a wave of envy washing over her. How she wished she could simply walk away too. Yet, despite her desires, she was bound to follow through with the dinner ns. They left the hotel and proceeded to a nearby restaurant.


    Seated by the window, Elyse turned her gaze outside, determined to remain silent until their meals arrived.


    However, Edward couldn’t tolerate the quiet. “You missed yesterday’s match. What were you up to?”


    Elyse’s eyes flickered towards Jayden momentarily before she quickly averted her gaze, resolving not to look his way again.


    Jayden caught the brief look but remained silent. Instead, he calmly offered an excuse, “I had an unavoidablemitment.”


    “Was it rted to someone? Aarya perhaps?” Edward pressed, his curiosity piqued by the eyebrow he raised.


    Jayden nodded, confirming the connection to Aarya. “Yes, it concerns her.”


    Elyse felt a sting of hurt, though she scarcely admitted it to herself.


    Edward, swirling his wine before taking a sip, leaned in with a sly smile. “So, to you, Aarya’s issues take precedence over Elyse’s, don’t they?”


    Jayden’s gaze shifted to Elyse, noting her deliberate avoidance. He sighed, a mix of resignation and frustration in his voice. “Given everything that’s happening, Aarya’s situation demands my immediate attention.”


    Edward’s tone turned taunting. “Oh, I see how it is.” He then turned sharply to Elyse, his voiceced with provocation. “Did you catch that? In your ex’s eyes, you rank below his current girlfriend. You surely wouldn’t want someone like that again.”


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