Two cars pulled up at the gate.


    Ivan was the first to step out, and right behind him—


    Came the uninvited guests, Ma and Reba.


    Elodie''s expression darkened. It was the anniversary of her mother''s passing, and she had never wanted Ma here. Most of her mother''s suffering hade at his hands; all these years after her death, he hadn''t even bothered to visit her grave once.


    So why show up now?


    "Elodie, on a day like this, how could you not tell your father?" Ma strode forward, his brow furrowed in a show of annoyance and helplessness. "I should be here, you know."


    Instinctively, Elodie nced at Ivan.


    If it weren''t for Ivan, Ma probably wouldn''t have remembered what day it was.


    Catching her look, Ivan frowned, as if he wanted to say something.


    But Ma waved a dismissive hand. "Don''t me Ivan. We were once husband and wife-how could I forget a day like this?"


    Elodie nearlyughed out loud.


    Ma''s hypocrisy made her sick.


    He had to pick today of all days to stir up trouble?


    No one in the Thorne family wanted him here.


    "That won''t be necessary. My grandmother and uncle don''t want to see you. Please leave."


    Elodie managed to keep her dignity, but her voice was cold enough to sting.


    Ma''s scowl deepened as he stared at her, disappointment and reproach all over his face. "What''s with that attitude? Do you remember I''m your father at all?"


    Elodie''s lips curled in a cold half-smile. "Shall I remind President Harcourt? My name is Thorne."


    Whatever remained of their father-daughter bond had faded three years ago.


    "You-!" Ma''s face reddened in anger. "You''re growing more and more like your mother-stubborn, willful, no sense of propriety. If it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t be enjoying your cushy life as Mrs. Silverstein. Do you really think you could havended someone like Mr. Silverstein on your own?"


    She should be grateful, and yet-


    How did he end up with such an ungrateful child?


    Elodie''s expression finally changed, memories of her suffering these past three years shing behind her eyes. Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "You''re right. If not for you, I wouldn''t have ended up like this."


    If Ma hadn''t paid off a reporter to catch her and Jarrod in apromising position at that hotel-


    Jarrod would never have misunderstood her, and she wouldn''t be stuck in this miserable marriage.


    What''s there to cherish about a father who''d sell out his own daughter''s reputation just to turn a profit and feed a scandal to the public?


    "No one wants you here. Don''t upset my grandmother. Please, just go." Elodie''s gaze grew icy as she dispensed with thest of her forced politeness.


    She left them no room to argue.


    On a day when her family mourned, the Harcourts had only shown up to make things worse.


    Ma''s face twisted in displeasure.


    He looked at Elodie, full of usation and disappointment.


    In his mind, his very presence today was a magnanimous gesture.


    And she dared to put on airs with her own father?


    Reba gave a derisive snort. "The Thornes are barely holding it together. We only came out of pity-thought we''d do you the courtesy of showing up. Honestly, you don''t even know what''s good for you."


    Only then did Ivan turn his gaze on her, eyes cold and unreadable.


    Elodie shot back, voice sharp as a de, "Not knowing what''s good for me is still better than your self-importance."


    No one here wanted theirpany.


    Reba, annoyed, suddenly let out a shrillugh. She craned her neck, peering into the yard. "Say, where''s Mr. Silverstein?"


    "On a day like this, he''s not by your side?"


    Her ridicule was in as day. "Aren''t you the least bit curious why Mr. Silverstein didn''te?"


    A knot of unease twisted in Elodie''s stomach.


    The next moment, Reba grinned, tilting her head. "Because Mr. Silverstein is off... celebrating his living mother-inw''s birthday!"


    She put extra emphasis on "living," making a mockery of Winifred''s memorial.


    Elodie froze.


    She hadn''t expected this.


    Reba whipped out her phone, shoving it at Elodie''s face. "Ms. Fielding posted this morning—today''s Mrs. Fielding''s birthday. Mr. Silverstein rented out a country club for the party. He''s having the time of his life-who''d bother with your little day of mourning?"