Elodie instinctively nced at the person beside her.


    Suddenly, a strong, warm body pressed against her back, his arms wrapping her in a loose embrace.


    His masculine scent overwhelmed her senses, scattering her thoughts.


    Startled, she turned her head.


    Jarrod was awake, eyes sharp and clear. He reached over her shoulder and took the phone from her hand.


    He nced down at Elodie in his arms, his tone calm. "No."


    A pang twisted in Elodie''s chest.


    She was supposed to be the wife here, so why did she feel like some secret lover, sneaking around to avoid being caught?


    Her back was pressed firmly against Jarrod''s solid chest, the heat between them rising.


    A flush crept up Elodie''s cheeks. She struggled to slip out of his embrace.


    Jarrod seemed to realize just howpromising their position was. He was the first to pull away, putting some space between them. "I''ll call you backter," he said into the phone.


    Once he hung up, his gaze shifted to Elodie.


    She sat up as well, smoothing her expression intoposure. "Sorry, I didn''t realize it was your phone."


    Jarrod let out a quiet, humorlessugh and moved toward the bathroom. "Then I''d appreciate it if Mrs. Silverstein could avoid that mistake in the future."


    Elodie pressed her lips together, understanding the unspoken warning.


    He was worried Sylvie would get the wrong idea... or perhaps he suspected she''d done it on purpose?


    Elodie frowned, knowing any exnation would sound hollow.


    She gathered her clothes, preparing to get ready for the day.


    Jarrod emerged just as she was about to pass him. Earlier, when he''d held her, he''d noticed how frail she felt, and now, without makeup, she looked even paler.


    As she walked by, he suddenly asked, "Are you feeling all right?"


    Elodie froze, her heart skipping nervously.


    Jarrod eyed her, uncharacteristically concerned. "Do you want me to take you to see a doctor?"


    It hit her then-he''d noticed how unwell she was.


    "I''m fine." Elodie refused, unwilling to let Jarrod know about her illness. If he found


    out, it would only give him another excuse to justify his cheating.


    His concern surprised her all the same.


    "Suit yourself." Jarrod studied her for a moment, straightening his tie. "If my grandmother asks, just tell her what happened."


    And in that instant, Elodie understood.


    He only cared about keeping up appearances for his grandmother, worried she''din about hisck of concern for her.


    Downstairs, his grandmother had already returned from her morning walk.


    She''d woken up early to make Elodie a pot of nourishing soup. Elodie couldn''t bear to let her efforts go to waste, so she forced herself to drink some, even though she felt sick.


    "Jarrod, why don''t you and Elodie leave together?" his grandmother suggested. Jarrod paused and looked at Elodie.


    Elodie remembered the phone call from earlier. "No, thank you, Grandma. I have to go the opposite direction for something."


    The old woman cast a nce at Jarrod, who didn''t bother to respond.


    She understood that he had no intention of going with Elodie, and she was clearly frustrated.


    Elodie knew Jarrod was heading off to meet Sylvie.


    Besides, the memory of being stranded on the roadside a few days ago was still fresh; she wasn''t about to risk a repeat.


    She left with Jarrod.


    After making sure the housekeeper and his grandmother were gone, she watched Jarrod''s back as he spoke on the phone and said, "I''ll be really busy from now on. I won''t being back here anymore."


    They were already divorced. No matter how she exined things to his grandmother, being called back to this house again and again would make things awkward for both of them.


    She hoped Jarrod would handle this soon.


    Of course, she could still visit his grandmother privately.


    Their marriage was over, but there was no need to hurt the old woman''s feelings.


    Jarrod turned just in time to see Elodie getting into her car and driving away. He frowned slightly.


    On the other end of the phone, Maurice''s voice rang out in surprise. "What''s this, Elodie threatening you by refusing toe home?"


    "She''s really got a whole bag of trickstely-ssic drama queen!"


    Jarrod replied tly, "Doesn''t matter to me."


    Elodie stopped by her apartment to freshen up and pull herself together before heading to the office.


    She spent the whole morning in meetings with Alexander. Their next project was finally taking shape, and if all went well, it wouldunch by the end of the year.


    Around noon, Alexander brought Elodie along as a technical consultant for a meeting at TerraGreen Solutions.


    TerraGreen Solutions was a subsidiary of The Jett Group. It wasn''t until she arrived that Elodie learned Ivan was now in charge there.


    As she entered the lobby, Elodie immediately noticed a group not far away.


    An elegant woman clung to a man''s arm, chatting easily with the TerraGreen Solutions executives.


    Just as Elodie nced over, Jarrod looked up.


    His eyes passed right over her, cold and indifferent, as if she were a stranger.


    He''d spent thest three years keeping his distance, and Elodie knew exactly why.


    Sylvie had noticed her too, but clearly didn''t care.


    Elodie looked away. If Sylvie hadn''t had Jarrod, no matter how impressive her credentials, she would never have met these corporate bigwigs.


    But now, as Jarrod''s girlfriend, everyone deferred to her.


    Elodie suddenly recalled something Lucinda had said.


    In a way, Sylvie really did fit the Silverstein family''s requirements for the next matriarch-her background, her pedigree.


    Old families like theirs cared most about preserving the right bloodline.


    Their host, Mr. Ableson from TerraGreen Solutions, wrapped up their meeting around twelve-thirty.


    He suggested, "Why don''t you two join us for lunch? The cafeteria here is actually


    quite good, if you don''t mind a simple meal..."


    Alexander checked the time-it was gettingte.


    He looked to Elodie, who nodded her agreement.


    They all headed to the staff dining hall.


    What they didn''t expect was to run into Jarrod and Sylvie, along with Ivan and


    Queenie.


    The two couples stood out immediately.


    They, too, hade for lunch.


    Elodie felt her breath catch in her throat and unconsciously stopped walking.


    Mr. Ableson, delighted by the coincidence, called out, "What luck! If you don''t mind, why don''t we all eat together?"