Bound Hearts: My Vows to My Disabled Spouse

She Has Always Been Selfish

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

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

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 plan to make Bryce leave of his own accord. It dawned on her that Jayden had something to do with the "ghost". However, she lacked any proof to confirm her suspicions.

"You failed the competition and couldn't become 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 offered comfort. "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 play 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. c

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 her composure.

"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!"Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

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 blacklisted Theo's number.

Now that Mabel was safe and Glenda had agreed to Theo's demand, Elyse questioned why she should comply. 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 regularly. 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!