?<strong>Chapter 649:</strong>
Elyse lingered in the dining room, taking her time with her meal. Afterward, she settled in the tearoom, gazing out at the day.
Driscoll came in with some snacks and set them next to Elyse, lingering, unsure whether to speak or not.
Elyse noticed Driscoll’s hesitation and, while nibbling on a snack, she asked, “Driscoll, are you considering giving Mr. Owen another chance? Have you thought about talking to him about recognizing his faults?”
Driscoll sighed and shook his head. “There’s no other option. His childhood was difficult. He’s never had anyone who really looked out for him.”
Elyse remained silent.
Driscoll continued, “I understand his issues well, but he’s stubborn and doesn’t listen to anyone or acknowledge his faults. But Mrs. Owen, he’s been like this since he was young, without anyone to guide him properly. It’s notpletely his fault.”
Elyse knew Driscoll was advocating for Jayden, hoping she would reconsider. Yet, Driscoll also pointed out that Jayden often dismissed others’ advice, preferring to follow his own reasoning.
Elyse couldn’t recall how many times she had given Jayden another chance or how often they had discussed these issues. Eventually, she had grown weary of it all.
Looking at the sky and hugging her knees, Elyse said, “Sometimes I wonder if he is toofortable, and I’m just creating problems that make us both miserable.”
Driscoll offered somefort, saying, “We all hope you two can find happiness together. But a marriage needs more than just the basics. It requires ongoing effort. Without a strong bond, it’s bound to struggle. So, you’ve done nothing wrong. You’ve been trying to salvage your marriage. It’s Mr. Owen who needs to understand.”
Elyse responded softly, “There’s a lot he doesn’t understand.”
After a moment, Driscoll decided he needed to talk to Jayden again, fearing Elyse might decide to leave. He exited the tearoom, leaving Elyse to her thoughts.
Later, as the afternoon wore on, Elyse recalled that Tracy had mentioned she would speak with Shaun. It had been a while, and Elyse had heard nothing from Tracy. Elyse assumed Tracy and Shaun must be enjoying their time together; otherwise, why hadn’t Tracy reached out?
With that thought, Elyse headed to her bedroom to grab her phone. Jayden monitored it but didn’t stop her from trying to call Tracy. Elyse had much to discuss with Tracy.
She picked up her phone and dialed Tracy’s number, only to find it was switched off. How could Tracy’s phone be off during the day? Elyse tried calling multiple times, but each attempt confirmed that Tracy’s phone was off. Frustrated, Elyse decided to call Shaun.
Elyse had Shaun’s number but had never dialed it before. This was her first time reaching out to him, and it made her somewhat anxious.
As the call connected, Elyse felt nervous and asked, “Shaun, is Tracy with you? Could you ask her toe see me? I miss her.”
Shaun remained silent. Elyse repeated her question, but still, Shaun didn’t reply. She could hear his breathing grow heavier. Puzzled, she said, “Shaun, can you hear me? Why aren’t you responding? Did you hurt Tracy again?”
Shaun finally reacted, insisting, “I didn’t hurt her this time. I really didn’t. You’ve got it wrong.”
Elyse detected an odd tone in Shaun’s voice. It sounded nasal and slurred. Her immediate thought was that Shaun might be intoxicated.
She asked further, “Are you drunk? What’s going on between you and Tracy? Why is her phone off? It’s odd to be drinking at this hour. Don’t you have work?”
At this, Shaun began to chuckle, a foolish sound that grew into louderughter, and then shifted into tears. Hearing his tears, Elyse felt a sense of dread and asked, “Why are you crying? What happened?”
“Tracy is dead. She’s dead,” Shaun said, his voice choked with emotion. “She’s gone. She had agreed to give me another chance, but she’s now dead.”
The phone dropped from Elyse’s hand as she sped her chest, gasping for air.
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