Laurie let out a startled scream.
"Elyse, what's gotten into you?" Trevor's voice rang out as he stepped in, immediately taking in the chaos before him.
The moment Laurie saw him, she immediately said, "Trevor, look at your wife! She actually raised her hand against me!"
Elyse stood there, her gaze distant and emotionless as she looked at the mother and son. The accusation in Trevor's eyes told her everything she needed to know. There would be no point in explaining. Without another word, she turned toward the exit.
Near the doorway, Trevor caught up to Elyse and grabbed her wrist—his grip landing right on her fresh burn. Her skin was already inflamed from the burn, yet he didn't notice at all.
A tightness rose in Elyse's throat, and her vision blurred as tears threatened to spill. She bit down hard on her lip, forcing the tears back. Lifting her chin, she met his gaze with quiet defiance.
Trevor looked at her as though she were a stranger. The Elyse he remembered had always been obedient, always showering him with affection regardless of how distant he was. "Elyse..."
Before he could continue, Elyse interrupted, her voice cutting through the air. "Shouldn't you be accompanying Joanna to her prenatal appointment today?"
That single question was enough to reveal that she knew about Joanna, and she had seen the message.
Trevor's expression tightened. A hint of unease flashed across his eyes. He instinctively tried to hold onto her, but she wrenched her hand free without hesitation.
It hit Trevor then—this wasn't a fleeting outburst. Elyse truly meant to leave him.
"I can explain. It's not what you're imagining," Trevor said, panic creeping into his voice.
Elyse stepped back, putting distance between them. Her tone turned icy. "Trevor, whatever she is to you doesn't concern me. What matters is that she's pregnant with your child. I won't accept betrayal. Let's end this marriage. Don't push me to despise you completely."
Laurie came out just in time to catch Elyse's words, her expression instantly brightening with excitement. "Trevor, is that true? Who's having your baby? That's fantastic news! Since Elyse is asking for a divorce, you should agree right away!"
A hollow smile tugged at Elyse's lips. She had expected this—his mother had been waiting for the day they ended things.
"Mom, can you stop picking on Elyse all the time? She wouldn't have reacted like this unless you crossed the line. And for the record, I have no intention of divorcing her," Trevor said firmly.
Elyse stared at Trevor with her reddened eyes. A dull ache spread through her chest, as if something inside was being carved away piece by piece. So he had always known what she endured, yet chose not to intervene. Perhaps to him, the peaceful facade was what mattered the most, even if it meant she suffered from mistreatment.
At this point, whatever fragile hope Elyse had left for Trevor was completely gone. Without hesitation, she turned and walked away.
Trevor moved to follow, but Laurie blocked his way. She held Trevor's arm and launched into a tirade. "The entire family opposed your marriage to Elyse. But you ignored us and married her behind our backs. What could she even bring to the table? She is all looks and no substance!"
Trevor tuned out her words and pulled his arm free from her grip before rushing after Elyse.
The moment Trevor was gone, Laurie wasted no time making a call for an investigation. If there really was another woman carrying his child, she intended to bring the woman into the Blake household without delay, no matter her background. Trevor's grandmother had long been waiting for a great-grandchild and would never allow a Blake descendant to remain outside the family. Once that woman entered Blake Manor, Elyse would be more than determined to leave Trevor.
