?<strong>Chapter 1562:</strong>


    Elyse shot a hesitant nce at Jayden before turning back to Cody. “Promise you won’t get mad? And no shutting me out, okay?”


    Cody rolled his eyes like a long-suffering older brother. “Knew you were up to something.”


    “Promise,” Elyse pressed, her tone firm.


    “Fine, fine,” Cody relented with a dismissive wave. “I promise.”


    Elyse exhaled, her shoulders visibly rxing as if she’d been carrying a boulder on her back. She paused, searching for the right words. “I got invited to perform.”


    Cody’s brows knitted in confusion. “And that’s a problem? Isn’t that what you’ve been working so hard for? More people are noticing your talent, and at the end of the day, it’s your call whether to say yes or no.”


    Elyse fiddled with the edge of her sleeve, her voice dropping. “I know, but… this one’s different. Reba Dyson invited me to y at the 20th-anniversary celebration of the Virelia-Manfek peace ords.”


    At the mention of Reba, Cody’s face tightened ever so briefly, like a shadow passing over the sun. It was fleeting, but it didn’t escape Jayden’s sharp eye.


    Elyse, blind to the storm brewing on Cody’s face, pressed on. “I mentioned it to Ms. Griffin, and she practically turned to stone. She revealed that you and my dad went through something simr.” Her voice faded into whispers as she caught the haunted look in Cody’s eyes.


    Lost in the shadows of memory, Cody took a measured breath. “What exactly are you trying to uncover?”


    Treading carefully, Elyse ventured, “The truth about what transpired decades ago. Why did you and Ms. Griffin drift apart like ships in the night?”


    Cody’s silence spoke volumes as he bowed his head, wrestling with old demons.


    The quiet grew thick enough to cut with a knife, sending shivers down Elyse’s spine as she fidgeted in her seat.


    Finally, like a dam breaking, Cody spoke. “I can’t tell you anything about what happened back then. But about that performance you mentioned…” His eyes darkened. “Stay far away from it.”


    Noting Elyse’s puzzled expression, he added grimly, “That concert harbors secrets you don’t want to uncover.”


    Elyse’s mind raced with questions. What skeletons were Cody and Celeste keeping buried?


    ?????????????????? ?????????????? ??????????: ?????????ν???????????????


    “I need to clear my head,” Cody muttered, rising from his seat. “Going for a walk. Make yourselffortable.”


    Elyse watched his retreating form with worried eyes.


    Turning to Jayden, she whispered, “Whatever happened must have left deep scars. I’m burning to know the truth.”


    Jayden remained a pir of reason. “Sometimes, curiosity leads down dangerous paths. They both raised red gs. Perhaps it’s best to heed their warning.”


    Elyse nodded. “I think so too.”


    The gravity in Cody’s voice had painted the concert in sinister shades. After a moment of contemtion, Elyse messaged Louise, declining the performance invitation and asking her to ry the news to Reba. With Louise’s assurance to handle the situation, Elyse tried to push the matter from her thoughts.


    .


    .


    .