Freya hesitated for a moment before breaking off a tiny piece. "Just this bit. Try it, but that''s all you get-Elodie made it especially for me."


    Joseph nced down at the crumb in his palm, looking resigned.


    Before long, Maurice and the others returned.


    Sylvie walked alongside Maurice, scrolling through the photos on his camera, a faint smile on her lips.


    Jarrod looked around and noticed Octavia was missing. "Where''s Octavia?" he asked.


    Freya jumped in to answer, "She went back to the lounge. Seemed upset about something I honestly have no idea what I did to set her off."


    Jarrod shrugged it off. "Forget it. She''s got that princess syndrome."


    Freya''s words seemed to jog Maurice''s memory.


    He suddenly remembered that post on social media.


    Dropping down beside her, Maurice poured Freya a drink, coaxing, "Come on, tell your big brother-who was that woman with your brother in the photo you posted the other day?"


    Joseph''s eyes flickered.


    Sylvie couldn''t help ncing at Joseph, either.


    She wondered-if Joseph was seeing someone, why hadn''t he told them? She''d asked before, but Joseph had always dodged the question.


    Even Jarrod raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.


    Freya instinctively nced at her older brother.


    Honestly, he''d already told her about this—there was nothing between him and Elodie, and Elodie didn''t like misunderstandings. She''d made Freya promise not to spread rumors.


    With that in mind, Freya batted hershes and replied, "Just someone we ran into, that''s all. No one special."


    Maurice let out a disappointed sigh.


    Sylvie arched her brows in a knowing way. She''d suspected as much-Joseph would never keep something like that from them.


    "I remember in that photo, your brother was grinning pretty wide at her," Jarrod remarked nonchntly, loosening the buttons on his riding jacket.


    Silence fell.


    After a moment, Joseph paused and, with a tone that was hard to read, said, "Probably because she''s beautiful."


    Now everyone looked at him, each with their own thoughts.


    Sylvie nced at Joseph. She couldn''t recall ever hearing himpliment a woman-other than herself, of course.


    After a week off, Elodie was finally back at work.


    Since joining VistaLink Technologies, she''d been leading several major projects. She felt a few of the key metrics needed to be retested, and any dys in the project meant theunch would have to be pushed back. Still, the side projects needed to keep moving forward.


    On Wednesday, VistaLink Technologies received an invitation to TerraCore Technologies'' new materialsunch event.


    As a technical partner, Elodie apanied Alexander to the event. If TerraCore''s materials proved innovative enough, they might be integrated into their drone manufacturing.


    When they arrived outside TerraCore''s headquarters, Elodie''s phone rang. She


    saw her grandmother''s number on the screen.


    She nced at Alexander. "Alex, head in without me. I''ll catch up."


    He nodded and was ushered inside.


    Elodie answered the call, greeted by her grandmother''s cheerful voice.


    "Sweetheart, back at work already?"


    "Yes, Grandma. Did you need something?"


    "There is something, actually. Do you realize Valentine''s Day is right around the corner?"


    Elodie blinked. "...I hadn''t noticed."


    She''d never really celebrated it before.


    Her grandmother tsked. "Don''t just bury yourself in work! Don''t tell me you and Jarrod aren''t doing anything for it?"


    "No, we haven''t made any ns."


    "That just won''t do! It''s a special day—you can''t let it pass by unnoticed. If you two aren''t nning anything, then I''ll arrange something myself." Displeased by Jarrod''sck of initiative, her grandmother was clearly intent on teaching him a lesson.


    Elodie closed her eyes for a moment, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. The situation was so vexing-Jarrod kept their rtionship a secret from his family, and it was really starting to get to her.


    Her grandmother didn''t press further, just added, "Alright, go on with your day. Leave it to me!"


    Then she hung up, not giving Elodie a chance to object.


    Elodie stood there, frowning, mulling over what to do next.


    A car pulled up nearby-she recognized both the vehicle and the license te.


    Jarrod''s tall, well-built frame stepped out. He nced at Elodie for a couple of seconds, then looked away, turning to open the car door for the woman beside him.


    Sylvie, elegant as ever, stepped out with her arm tucked through his.


    Several TerraCore executives came out to greet them.


    The group swept past Elodie, heading inside. Jarrod didn''t so much as nce her


    way, making no move to acknowledge her at all.


    As he and Sylvie walked by, surrounded by the weingmittee, Elodie pressed her lips together and, without caring who heard, called out, "Jarrod, I need a word. Can you spare me a few minutes?"