She Has Always Been Selfish


    Bryce had not intended to step inside the house. His n was to simply say goodbye and leave this damned ce.


    "I won''t stay for dinner! I''d rather starve outside than enter your house!" he eximed loudly. Jayden, with a nk expression, turned to Driscoll. "Send him home," hemanded.


    Driscoll nodded, understanding Jayden''s intention, and ushered Bryce towards a car.


    As Bryce settled into his car, a peculiar sensation washed over him. Hadn''t he chosen to leave on


    his own? Why then did it feel as if he had been thrown out? Confusion clouded his thoughts as he sat in the car, trying to piece it all together.


    Once Bryce was gone, Elyse observed a subtle lift in Jayden''s mood. She recalled a conversation from a few days prior where Jayden had mentioned his n to make Bryce leave of his own ord. It dawned on her that Jayden had something to do with the "ghost". However, shecked any proof to confirm her suspicions.


    "You failed thepetition and couldn''t be the concertmaster, right?" Jayden suddenly said, turning to face Elyse with an intense gaze.


    She bowed her head, her voice tinged with sadness. "Yes. I failed."


    Jayden offeredfort. "I can arrange a personal concert for you, if you want."


    Driscoll, returning just in time, overheard Jayden''s words and smiled warmly. It was clear Jayden


    had figured out how to bring joy to Elyse.


    Feeling embarrassed, Elyse responded, "I don''t think I''m ready for a solo performance yet." Jayden withdrew his gaze and started toward the dining room. "Really? But I think you y the violin very well."


    Elyse paused, taken aback, and her cheeks flushed with color. She felt Driscoll watching and hurried to catch up with Jayden.


    Later that evening, while Elyse was practicing her violin, her phone vibrated. Glenda was calling. She stared at the screen, hesitating for a moment before answering.


    "Theo has let Mabel go home!" Glenda burst out immediately. cCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Elyse was taken aback. She had been messaging Theo, pleading for Mabel''s release, but there


    had been no reply. Now, his sudden decision made her uneasy.


    "Did he just let her go without saying anything?" Elyse asked cautiously.


    Glenda''s voice, once filled with excitement, now wavered.


    Elyse asked with rising anger, "What were his conditions?"


    Glenda responded, a note of guilt in her voice, "He wants to see you."


    Elyse was stunned. "Did you agree to this?"


    "Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been able to bring your sister back," Glenda admitted, trying to maintain herposure.


    "Mom! Have you forgotten I''m married? Why would you promise him that? Have you thought about my situation at all? Aren''t you worried that Jayden will be furious?" Elyse''s anger surged. Glenda, growing frustrated with Elyse''s barrage of questions, retorted, "I''ve found out that Jayden is just a cripple and holds no sway in the Owen family. Besides, I only want to save Mabel. All you need to do is meet with Theo once. I''m not asking for anything more!"


    Elyse was infuriated by Glenda''s dismissive tone. She wanted to respond, but Glenda ended the call abruptly.


    Fuming, Elyse soon came to a decision and cklisted Theo''s number.


    Now that Mabel was safe and Glenda had agreed to Theo''s demand, Elyse questioned why she shouldply. It was Glenda who had agreed to the meeting, not her.


    After that, Elyse exhaled deeply, picked up her violin, and resumed her practice.


    Glenda, having hung up the phone, sighed deeply and muttered to herself, "She is so narrow- minded. She won''t do even the smallest thing for me."


    Mabel, who had been lying on the bed, opened her eyes looking tired and pale.


    In truth, she wasn''t sick. Though Theo had confined her in the basement, he had provided her


    meals regrly. Yet, the fear had overwhelmed her. She was terrified that he might harm her severely.


    Mom, who were you talking about?" Mabel asked weakly.


    Your elder sister, of course!" Glenda responded, her voice tinged with anger. "Theo wouldn''t let


    you go until I agreed to arrange a meeting with her. But I can''t believe she''s unwilling to help-she just gave me an earful over the phone!"


    Glenda continued bitterly, "What an ingrate! She doesn''t care about you at


    all."


    Mabel remained silent, her thoughts drifting to what Kaelyn had told her in the basement. She clenched her fists in silence. "She doesn''t deserve to be my sister. She has always been selfish," she said bitterly, her teeth gritted.


    Nobody knew the extent of the mental strain she had endured in the basement. Yet, despite her plight, Elyse had refused to help!