When Elodie called, it took her grandmother a long time to pick up.


    It was only just past eight. Her grandmother had always been a bit of a night owl, fond of binge-watching dramas and scrolling through videos-never one to go to bed early.


    So Elodie tried the house line instead.


    One of the housekeepers answered. "Mrs. Silverstein, your grandmother hasn''t been feeling well these past couple of days. She''s resting now-she barely touched her dinner."


    A flicker of worry crept into Elodie''s voice. "What happened? Is it her blood pressure again?"


    "The family doctor stopped by. He said she caught a chill, and her blood pressure''s been unstable. Mrs. Silverstein, if you have time, could youe home today? We''ve tried to talk to her, but she won''t really listen to us..."


    Elodie hesitated.


    She couldn''t just pretend nothing was wrong now that she knew her grandmother was ill. Besides, her grandmother had always been so good to her. For both emotional and moral reasons, she ought to visit.


    "I''lle over right away."


    She gathered her things and set out for Silverstein Mansion.


    She''d originally wanted to ask if Jarrod hade home, but now she''d have to go back and check herself.


    When she arrived at the mansion, a housekeeper greeted her at the door with a pair of slippers. Elodie slipped them on and nced into the living room, where her grandmother was lying on the sofa. The moment she heard Elodie enter, she sat up with a bright smile. "Look who''s home! They told me you wereing, so I got out here to wait for you. Just got off work, sweetheart?"


    Elodie rxed a little when she saw her grandmother''s color looked decent. "Grandma, are you feeling any better? I heard you haven''t wanted to eat at all."


    Her grandmother squeezed her hand, eyes warm. "Oh, don''t worry about me. Just the usual aches and pains of old age. Missing a couple of meals is just a little cleanse for the system."


    Elodie frowned gently. "That''s no good. Tell you what-what would you like to eat? I''ll make it for you."


    "Really?" Her grandmother''s face lit up. "How about some oatmeal? You always make it taste the best."


    Elodie smiled. "Alright, give me a few minutes."


    She''d spent months honing her cooking skills for Jarrod, perfecting homestyle recipes, especially soups and porridges. Her grandmother had tasted her oatmeal before and never stopped raving about it, often craving that familiar warmth.


    Elodie headed into the kitchen with practiced ease. Ever since she''d started working at VistaLink Technologies, she hardly ever cooked anymore. She no longer had to rush home on her lunch break to whip up meals for Jarrod, which was a relief in some ways.


    But as soon as she finished preparing the oatmeal and brought it to the table, the sound of a car horn cut through the quiet.


    Jarrod appeared in the living room.


    His gazended unerringly on Elodie her slender frame bustling around the kitchen, apron tied tight. Something flickered in his dark eyes, unreadable and distant.


    Her grandmother''s face broke into a grin as soon as she saw him. "I was just about to call you! Look, Elodie made a special effort to cook for you tonight-she''s the only one who cares enough to do that."


    Elodie paused, catching Jarrod''s cool, appraising look. A flush of embarrassment crept over her.


    She shot her grandmother a helpless nce, knowing exactly what she was up to trying to warm things up between her and Jarrod, hoping he''d show Elodie a little more kindness.


    But it was pointless.


    She''d been doing this for three years, and it had never made a difference.


    To him, she was nothing more than a sycophant, desperate for even a scrap of his affection.


    And now, with divorce looming, what must he think?


    Sure enough, Jarrod''s only response was a cold, dismissive remark: "We have staff-there''s no need to wear yourself out unnecessarily."


    She was used to his attitude by now, but the words still stung.


    She''d never expected him to return her feelings, but did he have to treat her with such indifference?


    Her grandmother was taken aback, too. "That''s not the same at all!"


    Jarrod calmly took his ce at the dining table, breezily changing the subject. "Grandma, are you feeling any better?"


    "If you and Elodie could just get along, I''d live another twenty years!" her grandmother huffed, unable to hide her frustration.


    Elodie stayed silent.


    Jarrod gave azy, carelessugh. "If you stop worrying about us, you''ll live to a hundred."


    Her grandmother shot him a look, then turned to Elodie with gentle concern. "Eat some more, sweetheart. You''re looking thinner-work must be so hard on you. Why don''t you move back home? We can take care of you here."


    Jarrod spared her a fleeting, indifferent nce.


    Elodie didn''t know how to exin that it was illness, not work, that had taken a toll on her. She simply spooned some food onto her grandmother''s te, letting the moment pass.