?<strong>Chapter 1030:</strong>


    As Kaelyn discreetly slipped her hand toward her pocket, Theo, ever sharp-eyed, snatched it before she could act. Heughed darkly. “Still pulling your little tricks, even with death breathing down your neck? What’s the point?”


    Turning to Mabel, he gently tapped her face, his voice dripping with mockery. “Look at your friend here. At least she knows how to keep quiet. Who would’ve thought—despite everything in the past, Mabel and I are friends now.”


    Completely broken down, Mabel lowered her head in silence, trembling like a leaf. Seeing Mabel reduced to this spineless wreck filled Kaelyn with frustration. If only Mabel hadn’t botched her mission, she wouldn’t have walked straight into Theo’s trap.


    Meanwhile, Edward, who had been observing the scene in silence, finally pieced things together. The fierce woman standing before him wasn’t just any rival; she was Elyse’s “old friend” and Theo’s former lover.


    Scratching his head in disbelief, Edward turned to Elyse. “I thought tonight would be a cozy little reunion. Turned out I was utterly wrong.”


    Elyse chuckled at his remark. “You were the one who insisted oning.”


    Edward grinned, a little sheepish. “I figured it’d be fun. Plus, now I’m getting a front-row seat to this chapter of your past.”


    Elyse’s gaze drifted to Kaelyn, whose defiant face betrayed a sense of desperation. With a mocking smile, Elyse teased, “Need me to order you a drink, Kaelyn? This might be yourst chance for one, now that you’re at Theo’s mercy.”


    Unwilling to let Elyse get the upper hand, Kaelyn spat out curses, but when her words didn’tnd, she shifted her expression. A wicked grin formed as she sneered, “Elyse, I bet you haven’t heard from Jayden in a while, have you?”


    The mention of Jayden’s name made Elyse’s face go rigid, her amusement instantly reced by cold suspicion. “What are you getting at?” Elyse demanded, her voice hard.


    Kaelyn’s grin widened, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Aren’t you curious why he’s been silent? Why he’s gone off the grid?”


    Elyse didn’t respond, waiting for Kaelyn to finish.


    With a cruelugh, Kaelyn delivered her blow. “Jayden has not been in touch because he’s dead. He was killed in a military skirmish. Bet you didn’t see thating, did you? He’s gone, Elyse, for good.”


    Elyse’s first reaction was pure disbelief. There was no way Jayden could be dead. Kaelyn had to be lying, trying to get under her skin with onest cruel jab before she was taken away.


    But Kaelyn, with a malicious glint in her eye, seemed to sense Elyse’s doubts. “You think I’m just spinning tales, don’t you? That I’d make up something this twisted about Jayden just to hurt you?”


    Elyse’s fists clenched, her voice steady but cold. “Kaelyn, you’re the one with a death sentence hanging over you, and yet you’re still spitting venom. Maybe you should focus on your own fate instead of cursing others.”


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