It was obvious now-Jarrod and his group hade out here to celebrate New Year''s Eve with Joseph.


    Elodie finally understood why Jarrod had turned down his grandmother''s


    suggestion toe out for the festivities together. He''d already made ns with Sylvie.


    Sylvie, in Jarrod''s eyes, was always his top priority.


    No one understood this better than Elodie.


    Alexander could hear the edge in Octavia''s voice, but he simply nced over at Jarrod. "Mr. Silverstein, what a coincidence. We''re here for a team retreat, and you all happened to pick the same spot."


    His tone was light-making it clear that Elodie hadn''t crashed their ns on purpose.


    After all, this was theirpany outing. It was pure chance the groups had run into each other. Was Elodie really to me?


    Jarrod looked up. "We decided toest minute, actually. Really is quite the coincidence."


    "Who knows if Elodie didn''t just drag everyone here as an excuse..." Octavia muttered.


    Maurice let out a shortugh. "Easy, sis. You''re being a bit too sharp-you''ll leave everyone with no way to save face."


    He didn''t exactly buy Alexander''s exnation.


    Sylvie, on the other hand, seemed entirely unbothered. She greeted Alexander with coolposure, "Mr. Sterling, fancy meeting you again."


    She kept her eyes firmly off Elodie, maintaining her signature graceful smile. Yet behind that warmth was a pride that was impossible to ignore.


    Alexander, after years of navigating high society, had no intention of causing a public scene. He simply returned her greeting with a polite, insincere smile. "Ms. Fielding, with the people you have backing you, I imagine we''ll be seeing each other often."


    Sylvie paused, understanding his implication. Still, she saw no need to argue. She was certain her own aplishments would change his opinion in time.


    Joseph, ncing over at Elodie—who seemedpletely detached from the drama-stood up and headed toward the tents.


    Seeing everyone leap to conclusions about her, Elodie merely drew her gaze away. She didn''t even bother responding to Octavia, but instead turned to Alexander. "Did we reserve a spot at the campsite?"


    Alexander remembered that Esmeralda had handled all the arrangements. "I''ll check with Esme," he said.


    Octavia, noticing how unruffled Elodie was by her barbs, only grew more agitated. What was Elodie ying at?


    Just then, Freya, called over by Joseph from the tents, spotted Elodie''s group. "Hey,e join us! There''s loads of space here—we can just push the tables together!"


    Elodie hesitated.


    Alexander arched an eyebrow, watching her with a trace of amusement.


    A soon-to-be ex-husband, the smug other woman, and a crowd of friends and family all rooting for the mistress''s rise... It was quite the scene.


    Truth was, Elodie hadn''t wanted to join them for dinner at all when she first saw Jarrod''s group.


    But Freya was already dashing over, grabbing her hand. "Come on, you have to sit with us!"


    Before Elodie could protest, Freya had guided her to a seat.


    The arrangement was awkward-she found herself sitting directly across from Jarrod, their eyes likely to meet at any moment.


    Elodie hesitated, but in the end, decided not to make a fuss.


    Alexander moved quickly, iming the seat beside Elodie before anyone else could. The rest of the VistaLink Technologies team took another table.


    Jarrod and his group made no objections, tacitly epting Freya''s invitation— after all, Freya had mentioned earlier she''d invited some friends, and they''d agreed.


    Now it would be awkward to object, even if they hadn''t expected Elodie''s group to show up.


    Not that they cared much how Elodie had managed to get in Freya''s good graces. In their eyes, Elodie had always tried to ingratiate herself with Jarrod''s friends and


    family; if that didn''t work, it was no surprise she''d try other angles.


    Elodie had assumed sitting across such a narrow table from Jarrod would be unbearably awkward, their gazes inevitably crossing.


    But from the moment she sat down, Jarrod whether intentionally or not-never once looked up to meet her eyes.


    Even when reaching for something on the table, he always waited for her to withdraw her hand before moving his own, careful to avoid any contact.


    He didn''t give her a single chance to engage with him.


    All the while, he kept his head turned, deep in conversation with Sylvie.


    To him, Elodie might as well have been invisible.