Elyse had spent the entire day on set. By the time she finished, she noticed more than ten missed calls from Laurie Blake on her phone.
Her already frayed nerves from a long day were now stretched to their breaking point.
Laurie was Trevor's mother. When she was younger, she had been quite famous in Elerith—graceful, gentle, and admired by many. After marrying into the Blake family, she rose to prominence among the elite social circle of Elerith.
Laurie had never held a favorable opinion of women like Elyse, who were part of the entertainment world. In her eyes, Elyse was unworthy of her son and brought shame to the Blake family's reputation.
After they got married, Trevor seldom took Elyse back to Blake Manor unless there was no other choice, as his family never welcomed her kindly.
Before, Elyse had chosen to tolerate everything to spare Trevor any awkwardness, reminding herself that they were his family and she simply had to endure it.
But now, everything had changed. She was already preparing to leave Trevor. Since he had betrayed her, why should she continue to endure any slight for his sake?
At that moment, her phone rang. It was Laurie again.
Elyse picked up the call, and Laurie's reproachful voice came through instantly. "Why are you only answering now? Do you have any idea how many times I've tried calling you today? Are you really that occupied?"
"Yes, I've been busy. What do you need?" Elyse replied, tone flat.
It was the first time Elyse had addressed Laurie this way, catching her off guard. Unable to find any fault with it, Laurie suppressed her reaction and went straight to the point. "Come to Blake Manor immediately. I have something to discuss with you."
"Alright. Anything else?" Elyse responded indifferently.
"What kind of tone is that?" Laurie demanded sharply.
Elyse gave a mocking laugh. She had only shown a hint of impatience, yet Laurie already couldn't handle it. All this time, she had been mistreated and slighted at Blake Manor.
"If that's all, I'm hanging up now." With those words, Elyse disconnected the call.
"It's been three years of marriage, and she still refuses to acknowledge you as family?" Anthony huffed, indignant on Elyse's behalf.
"Yeah, but I'll be divorced soon. Whether she accepts me or not won't matter anymore," Elyse replied casually.
"So, are you still planning to go to Blake Manor?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I? I want to see what she's up to this time."
At ten that evening, Elyse reached Blake Manor. Unlike the anxiety she usually felt coming here, she was remarkably calm tonight.
The housekeeper opened the door and immediately spoke with a hint of sarcasm. "What kept you so long to come here? Your mother-in-law is about to retire for the night."
In the past, Elyse would have swallowed the slight without a word, mindful that the housekeeper held a special place in Trevor's life. But that version of her no longer existed.
Elyse rolled her eyes. Her voice turned cool and cutting. "Then I'll take my leave now. She could've said so during the phone call. I was told to come right away, but now that I'm here, you're telling me it's her bedtime. Does she find messing with me funny?"
"You..." The housekeeper faltered, clearly caught off guard. Seeing that Elyse was actually about to get back in her car and leave, she quickly said, "Mrs. Blake, I was just joking! Your mother-in-law is still inside, waiting for you!"
Elyse cast the housekeeper an indifferent glance before stepping past her, unwilling to waste energy on someone who thrived on minor authority.
The moment Elyse stepped into the foyer, the sound of laughter drifted from the living room. Laurie and a young woman were chatting and laughing about Trevor's childhood.
A faint sneer touched Elyse's lips. Clearly, Laurie was still intent on introducing a better match for her son. It was nothing new.
Yet this time, Elyse felt none of the unease that once haunted her. She walked in with ease, her pace confident.
The instant Elyse stepped into the living room, the atmosphere shifted. The smiles on both women's faces disappeared, and Laurie didn't bother concealing her disdain.
"You finally decided to show up? What could possibly keep you so occupied? You could never look after Trevor properly," Laurie spat, her expression sour.
Elyse didn't bother to hide the sarcasm on her face. "Trevor isn't a toddler in need of supervision. Do you see him as someone incapable of handling himself?" She glanced at the young woman. "Is she meant to be the maid you hired for him?"
"Mind your words, Elyse! What gives you the right to talk about my son like that?" Laurie snapped, her voice rising.
Elyse's defiance struck a nerve. Furious, Laurie seized her coffee mug and flung it at Elyse without hesitation. Elyse reacted quickly, lifting her arm to shield herself, but the scalding liquid still splashed across her skin, sending a sharp burn through her hand.
This time, Elyse wasn't about to take it lying down. Without missing a beat, she grabbed a cup nearby and threw it down forcefully at Laurie's feet.
The cup hit the floor with a sharp crack, breaking apart instantly as fragments scattered across the floor.
