billion book
Chapter 243
A Sense Of Estrangement
After Brook finished speaking, he suddenly added, "You know this
friend I'm taking with me. You can catch up with her."
Jayden sensed his ulterior motive but didn't take it seriously, "Looking forward to it," he said.
Debora prodded Brook to clear out his things so she could use his office. With a grim expression, Brook plied and left with her.
Jayden stayed behind, heading for the elevator.
Thoughts of Elyse occupied his mind as he checked his phone for
messages.
Finding none from Elyse, he couldn't help but purse his lips.
Was she still upset?
As the elevator doors parted, a man with a laptop bag awaited. He addressed Jayden respectfully, "Mr. Owen, I'm here to pick you up."
Exiting the elevator, Jayden continued to stare at his phone, musing. "Tobin, did you send the gift as planned?"
Tobin Carman responded, "It's en route. Mrs. Owen will receive it before the party begins." Jayden hoped the gift would bring her joy.
"There's a meeting you need to attend, sir. We have 40 minutes before it starts. We should head
there promptly," Tobin said, checking his watch.
Exiting the Owen Group building, Jayden entered the car and murmured softly, "We must arrive on
time for the birthday party."
Tobin noted Jayden's genuine concern for his wife.
Elyse, clad in a white bathrobe, sat before the dressing mirror, her gaze fixed on her phone, lost in
thought.
"If you're itching to send him a message, just do it. No need to stare at your phone like that," Tracy remarked, leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed.
"Who said anything about messaging him?" Elyse tucked away her phone.
Stop fibbing! It's written all over your face that you miss him!"
Elyse shook her head in denial.
Observing the tension between Elyse and Jayden, Tracy inquired, "What's going on? Did you two have a major spat?"
"Nope," Elyse replied, lips pursed.
She wished for a heated argument with Jayden, but he... he couldn't even grasp what she was upset about!
After pondering for a moment, Elyse sighed, "We can't start a fight."
Tracy blinked in confusion.
Unaware of the details of their disagreement, she could only offer solace to Elyse. "He's throwing
a birthday bash for you today. Even if it's not your actual birthday, he cares about you. Cheer up.
You can't dazzle everyone looking like that."
Upon hearing this, Elyse gave her cheeks a pat and determinedly declared, "You're right. I should
be happier. After all, I was appointed concertmaster yesterday. I need to dazzle everyone at the party!"
As evening fell, the party menced.
Seated in the dressing room, Elyse glanced at Driscoll through the mirror, inquiring, "Where's Jayden? Hasn't he returned yet?"
Driscoll felt a cold sweat bead on his nose. "He hasn't shown up yet."
Elyse furrowed her brow. She had spent the entire day preparing herself and had received a black pearl crown from him, perfectly plementing her dress.
But there hadn't been a single message from him.
"What could he possibly be doing? Are you keeping something from me, Driscoll?" she prodded.
As Driscoll prepared to explain that Jayden had gone to see Peyton, Elyse's voice lowered, "Don't
tell me Jayden went to see Peyton. Peyton called me an hour ago, promising to be here on time." Driscoll fell silent.
Hadn't Jayden and Peyton coordinated their stories? Why concoct another excuse?
Judging by Driscoll's expression, Elyse's heart sank.
She had suspected Jayden was attending to his own business affairs, but no one had informed her.
Driscoll hesitated to disclose the truth to her. He adhered to Jayden's directive; if Jayden wished
to keep her uninformed, Driscoll couldn't defy him.
Jayden truly seemed to exclude her from his affairs.
Drawing a deep breath, Elyse pressed on, "Can you reach Jayden? He's the party's host. What if
he doesn't arrive?"
Driscoll shared her concern; he, too, felt the weight of anxiety.
He sympathized with Elyse's predicament.
What was Jayden thinking? Why prioritize work on such a significant
occasion?
"I'll attempt to reach him," he assured.
Then he walked out of the dressing room with a somber expression.
Left alone in the room, Elyse gazed at her reflection in the mirror,Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
Her attire was opulent, the black pearl crown alone valued at a staggering one hundred million.
She had never envisioned herself adorned in such splendor.
Yet, she appeared unfamiliar to herself in the mirror, a sense of estrangement creeping over her.
As the dressing room door creaked open, anticipation rose. Was Jayden returning?