?<strong>Chapter 1024:</strong>


    Elyse frowned, ready to turn him down, but Edward, as if reading her mind, gently pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.


    Caught off guard, Elyse found herself staring at Edward, wondering what curveball he was about to throw her way. In a soft, almost tender voice, Edward whispered, “My dear, once was enough for the hurtful words. There’s no need to repeat them.”


    Elyse brushed his hand away, sighing as she said, “Then go on, be a good boy, and enjoy the evening with your friends. I just want a moment to myself.”


    Edward’s shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. “Alright, but you have to promise that when you meet your friend, you’ll take me along.”


    “Fine, I promise,” Elyse replied, waving him off wearily.


    Pleased as punch with her agreement, Edward finally sauntered off to join the others for a drink. With her hovering shadow gone, Elyse breathed a sigh of relief. She knocked back her drink in one swift gulp, then reached for the bottle to pour another round.


    “Jayden, why haven’t youe to see me yet? Do you know how well the performance went today?” Her gaze drifted into the distance before she fished out her phone, pulling up Jayden’s chat once more. The conversation was a one-sided affair, filled to the brim with her messages.


    Thumb-scrolling upwards, she muttered under her breath, “Are you ignoring me on purpose? Trying to make me worry like this—it’s childish. If this is your way, at least tell me you’re safe. I’m genuinely concerned about you.” The pressure of the tour had forced Elyse to bottle up her feelings.


    But now, with the first performance in the rearview mirror and some liquid courage in her system, those buried emotions were bubbling to the surface. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep a lid on them any longer.


    An hour ticked by, and the banquet was winding down. The conductor’s voice rang out, “Great work, everyone! Tomorrow’s a rest day. We’ll meet again at the hall the day after to prepare for the next performance.” A chorus of cheers erupted from the group, and slowly but surely, people began to file out.


    Edward made his way to the exit and spotted Elyse standing there, seemingly waiting. He bounded over excitedly, asking, “Did you wait long? I was stuck in line for the restroom. It took forever.”


    Elyse shook her head. “No, I wasn’t waiting for you. I’m waiting for Theo’s car.”


    Edward’s face fell faster than a lead balloon. “Theo? What’s your ex doing here? Is he tagging along to meet your friend too? Can’t you stop being so indecisive? Isn’t having me enough?”


    Elyse rolled her eyes in exasperation.


    A few minutester, Theo’s car rolled up. He clocked Edward, and surprise flickered across his face, but unlike Edward, he kept his cards close to his chest. “I’m here to pick you up,” Theo said evenly. “Is heing along too? Let’s all go together.”


    .


    .


    .