Elodie watched the old woman''s warm, bustling manner with a flicker of unease. "He... already left," she said.
She wasn''t entirely sure when Jarrod had gone the night before.
Judging by the bed, she was certain he hadn''t slept there.
The old woman''s expression changed at once. "Left? But it''s only seven-thirty! I got up at six and never saw him leave."
Sensing something off, Elodie tried to soothe her. "Are you alright, Grandma?"
The elderly woman nced at Elodie''s curious face, then let out a heavy sigh. "What I gave him yesterday wasn''t a tonic-it was... something to stir up his desires."
Traditional medicine was a vast, mysterious thing.
She''d gone to special lengths, asking Dr. MacLeod to prepare just the right prescription.
Clearly, it hadn''t been put to use at all.
Elodie certainly didn''t look like a woman who''d spent a passionate night with her husband.
Elodie''s face tightened, and she pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
No wonder Jarrod''s voice had sounded a little hoarsest night-
As for when he''d left...
"Grandma, tell the kitchen not to bother with breakfast for my brother," came a sleepy voice from the stairs. Octavia descended, stifling a yawn, and shot Elodie a knowing look as she passed. "He already had breakfast with someone else."
Someone else...
It had to be Sylvie.
Elodie lowered her eyes, hiding her expression.
So Jarrod had leftst night to find Sylvie.
Even if that medicine had sparked his urges, it would never have been for her. Besides, after the sultry photos and then the added effect of the prescription... she could only imagine the fire between Jarrod and Sylviest night.
The old woman, thoroughly vexed, muttered and scolded under her breath, "Running off first thing in the morning! Just what out there keeps pulling him away?"
She''d gone to all this trouble-how had she ended up with such an ungrateful boy?
Elodie didn''t offer any exnation.
Nor did she say that Jarrod had actually left the night before.
There was no point in upsetting the old woman further.
As for the medicine...
A faint, mocking smile yed at Elodie''s lips.
To any onlooker, she''d be the wife so thoroughly ignored by her husband
that her only hope was to rely on ''medicine'' to arouse his interest.
But in the end, Grandma''s efforts had only served to spice up Jarrod and Sylvie''s night together.
The Warwick family''s art gallery opened for its weekend exhibition.
Alexander had little interest in such events, so Elodie brought Esmeralda along instead.
Just as Esmeralda had said, the building was striking—andmark designed by a renowned international architect at the request of the Warwick''s eldest son, nestled in a rare, peaceful corner of the city''s bustling business district.
Elodie and Esmeralda entered, using Alexander''s invitation badge.
Even Esmeralda, who''d seen her share of luxury, couldn''t help but whisper in awe, "They say it took over a decade to build this ce, just for his personal hobby. But the Warwicks aren''t just business moguls-their inws, the Whitakers, are a major political family, up in the capital. That means, even attending this exhibition is a kind of show of allegiance; it''s a way to rub shoulders with the political elite."
Elodie understood the social undercurrents of high society well enough.
No wonder the event was so exclusive.
The gallery was spread over five floors.
The first and second disyed collections from renowned local and international artists.
Elodie led Esmeralda through the exhibition hall.
Halfway in, someone stepped in their path.
Grady frowned at them. "How did you two get in here?"
Esmeralda rolled her eyes at her brother, clearly annoyed. "None of your business! Just worry about yourself."
Grady''s gaze swept over Elodie, then he said coldly, "This isn''t some Instagram hotspot for you girls to mess around in. No nonsense will be tolerated here."