?<strong>Chapter 1165:</strong>


    Seeing Edward’s confident smile, Elyse couldn’t help but chuckle. “Exactly. If I didn’t reciprocate your love, that’s on me, not you.”


    Edward looked at Elyse with a gaze full of sincerity and warmth. “I won’t trouble you further. Let’s be friends, shall we?”


    Elyse looked at Edward, then nodded and smiled. “Alright, we’re good friends then.”


    Edward returned the smile, joyfully saying, “Being friends is wonderful. It’s enough for me to protect you as a friend. I’m honored to be considered your friend.”


    Elyse responded, Edward let out a heartyugh. “Well, you should be! After all, I am the esteemed and remarkably talented Edward McCoy!” He lifted his ss. “Shall we toast to friendship?”


    Elyse agreed, raised her ss, and they toasted.


    After sipping his wine, Edward said, “I’ve always thought that with me pursuing you, you couldn’t tell what was in your own heart.”


    Elyse looked surprised. “What do you mean?”


    Edward borated. “Even though you have feelings for me and turned me down, I kept chasing. You might have been using my pursuit as a way to dodge confronting your own feelings.”


    Elyse chuckled awkwardly. “How could I possibly do that?”


    Sensing she wouldn’t confess, Edward shifted the conversation. “Did you know? Jayden’s current assignment could be fatal.”


    Elyse’s fork ttered onto her te with a loud clink.


    “Are you okay?” Edward inquired with concern.


    Elyse quickly retrieved her fork and managed a smile, nodding. “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me.”


    Edward perceived her true feelings but chose to remain silent.


    He continued, “Jayden knows he’s facing a life-or-death risk, which is why he didn’t bring you along. Do you think he’d have let me look after you if he had any other option? He’s been trying so hard to keep me out of the picture. Wouldn’t he cling to any opportunity to keep you safe?”


    Elyse took arge sip of her wine then asked, “Who told you he might die?”


    Edward replied, “He’s allied with Garret and is aware of some confidential information. Jayden teamed up with Garret to eliminate a certain—”


    Edward stroked his chin and added, “Before teaming up with Garret, Jayden and I joined forces to challenge Charlie Hudson.”


    “So, is his coboration with Garret also about taking someone down? Who could it be that requires such extreme measures?” Elyse inquired.


    Edward shrugged, unsure. “Maybe Garret knows, but he hasn’t shared that with me. My rtionship with Garret isn’t that close.”


    “Alright,” Elyse murmured, then seemed to lose herself in thought, her interest in her meal fading.


    Noticing her disinterest in food, Edward reminded her, “You need to eat well. I promised Jayden I’d take good care of you and won’t let you skip meals.”


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