No one here missed Elodie''s smile.


    Grady scowled. "She''s got the nerve tough? Clearly, my advice went in one ear and out the other!"


    Sylvie stayed silent, but her displeasure was obvious.


    "Typical housewife doesn''t understand technology. There''s no point arguing with someone like her, Ms. Fielding. Don''t let people like that ruin your day," Grady said, trying tofort Sylvie.


    Comparing the two women, he realized just how rare someone like Sylvie was— brilliant, respectful, and deeply appreciative of other people''s research. It took a genius to truly understand another genius. Clearly, Ms. Fielding was on the same wavelength as the U.N2''s creators.


    Naylor nced at Elodie, then back at Sylvie, who stood there with effortless poise andposure. Suddenly, it was obvious why Jarrod had chosen her. She had real presence.


    No wonder Jarrod had turned down Elodie''s advances at the gallery that night.


    But-


    "Housewife?" Naylor asked.


    Grady nodded. "Married, believe it or not. Mr. Sterling is the guy she''s stringing along on the side."


    He hadn''t gone into details about Elodie with Naylor before, so this caught Naylor off guard. He shot Elodie and Alexander a look-the two of them chatting andughing together-and found the whole thing even more puzzling.


    "What does her husband do?" Naylor couldn''t help but ask.


    Grady hesitated. "That... I really don''t know."


    Esmeralda had never mentioned it, either.


    "Enough gossip. Let''s focus on the product," Sylvie interjected coolly, turning away with her usual grace to examine a disy.


    Only then did Naylor''s attention return to her. He rarely met women as unppable as Sylvie-she never judged, never pried into other people''s private lives. Even if she didn''t like Elodie, she wouldn''t stoop to gossip, always steering the conversation back to work and herself.


    It was... admirable.


    Jarrod was one lucky guy.


    Joseph hadn''t said a word the entire time. He watched Sylvie''s retreating figure, aplicated look on his face, then just shook his head.


    Elodie, meanwhile, couldn''t care less what anyone thought of her. Notebook in hand, she meticulously recorded the different categories, features, and upgrades of the military tech on disy. After three years away, she was acutely aware of how quickly things had changed-an exhrating, but also bittersweet realization.


    If she weren''t sick, she''d throw herself back into her work without a second thought. Instead, she lived with a metaphorical sword hanging over her neck-a ticking time bomb that made every day uncertain.


    Lost in thought, she barely noticed the sound of measured, steady footsteps by the entrance.


    A gentle, melodic voice spoke up: "Jarrod, you''re here."


    Elodie looked over without thinking and saw Jarrod stride in, draped in a tailored overcoat. He handed Sylvie a bottle of steaming hot chocte-somehow incongruous in his hand. "To keep you warm."


    Sylvie''s smile was pure sweetness. "Thank you. My stomach''s not hurting anymore."


    Elodie watched quietly. As a woman herself, she guessed Sylvie was probably dealing with her time of the month a little surprised by Jarrod''s attentive care.


    So he could be this thoughtful, this gentle. There was no such thing as an oblivious man, she realized-it was only ever a matter of whether he cared enough.


    Excuses were just that-excuses, for those who wanted love and those who didn''t want to give it.


    She nced at the couple for only a second, then focused again on her notes.


    As fate would have it, Naylor, observing thefortable chemistry between Sylvie and Jarrod, looked over at Elodie just in time to catch her watching Jarrod.


    So, even after being rejected, she still couldn''t let go of someone else''s boyfriend?