?<strong>Chapter 1022:</strong>


    “No worries. I have something important to tell you,” Theo responded. “Tonight, we’re luring the mastermind out. Kaelyn ising personally to catch you.”


    “Kaelyn is that desperate? Just for my eight-million-dor bounty?” Elyse sounded surprised. “Is she really that strapped for cash?”


    “It’s not just about the money,” Theo exined. “If something happens to you, she stands to benefit in other ways too.”


    After a pause, he added, “I’lle to pick you upter. Letting Kaelyn get to you is part of the n, but I can’t risk anything happening to you.”


    Elyse thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll message you once the banquet ends.”


    Elyse ended the call and walked back into the restaurant. No sooner had she entered than someone with a vodka bottle approached her, inviting her to drink. She grabbed an empty ss, poured vodka halfway, toasted with a friend, took a swig, and resumed her seat.


    Nearby sat Darren, whose cheeks were already glowing as he scooted over, ss in hand.


    “Who picked this ce? This vodka’s strong. I owe them thanks. I doubt I’ll even manage the trip back to the hotel tonight,” he said, burping loudly at the end.


    Elyseughed. “Who knows? This stuff hits fast, so maybe cut back on the drinks.”


    Fueled by his drink, Darren, with a flush on his cheeks, voiced a question he had been pondering. “The tour kicked off today, yet I didn’t see Jayden. He promised he wouldn’t miss itst time I checked.”


    As Elyse gripped her ss, she recalled the unanswered messages and unreturned calls from Jayden. Every night, she wrestled with fear and worry. Masking her inner bitterness with another sip, Elyse answered, “I don’t know why he didn’t show up.”


    Darren scratched his head, taken aback by her reaction. After a pause, he suggested, “Aren’t you two going to fix things? It doesn’t seem like the love’s gone. Why not sit down and sort it out?”


    Elyse gave a small smile and chuckled lightly. “That’s a good one. Maybe you should ask Jayden that for me.”


    Darren clicked his tongue. “Me? I don’t even have his number. How am I supposed to help?”


    Elyse exhaled deeply. “Exactly, it’s our issue. You can’t intervene. We need to deal with it ourselves.” Realizing he had dampened Elyse’s mood with hisment, Darren hastily added, “Don’t take it to heart. I was just making conversation. Didn’t mean to make you upset.”


    He then gestured towards Quinn. “Look at that guy. We’re supposed to be celebrating, yet he’s moping alone in the corner. Total loner.”


    Elyse looked over at Quinn and remarked, “Let him be. He just ended a rtionship today. Maybe a bit of drinking will help him move on.”


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