The old woman''s face lit up with delight when she saw Elodie return. She hurried over and took Elodie''s hand. "Why are you back sote, dear? Just finished


    work?"


    She''d called earlier in the day and thought Elodie wouldn''t be able to visit again for quite some time.


    Elodie replied gently, her tone always softer with her grandmother. "Yes, I just left the office. Did Jarrod drop off some gardenias today? I want to take them to work with me."


    Her grandmother paused, a little surprised. "Oh, yes, that''s right. He said they''re your favorite, and since your old apartment is being renovated, there''s no way they''d survive there now."


    "That''s why I''ll bring them to the office for a while-easier to take care of them that way," Elodie exined smoothly.


    Her grandmother nodded, then tugged her toward the sunroom by the front door. "Come on, sweetheart. Let''s have a look."


    Inside, Elodie found several gardenia nts, recently transnted. She hadn''t had time to care for them these past two months, but they looked healthy and green, tiny buds already peeking through. She felt an unexpected wave of relief.


    Her grandmother checked the time and, her mind turning over, said, "Sweetheart, why don''t you call Jarrod and ask him toe home too?"


    Elodie hesitated, her eyes calm and clear.


    It wasn''t about staying the night or not. The two of them, once husband and wife, didn''t even have each other''s phone numbers anymore. Strangers would probably be closer.


    "My phone''s dead, Grandma. Maybe next time," Elodie replied with a gentle smile, but her tone was firm.


    Her grandmother took in Elodie''s answer and said nothing more. While Elodie inspected the flowers, she slipped out of the sunroom and called Jarrod herself. She didn''t mention Elodie-just said she had a headache and asked him toe home soon. Jarrod agreed.


    When her grandmother returned to chat with Elodie, she looked concerned. "Have you eaten yet? Let me ask the housekeeper to fix you something."


    She nced at Elodie''s slender frame with worry. Elodie was tall, but she looked almost fragile these days. It tugged at her heart.


    Elodie checked the time. "I''m fine, Grandma, really. I''m not hungry. I''ll just get the flowers back to the office tonight."


    Her grandmother looked surprised. "It''s almost half past nine! Why go to all that trouble now? Just stay the night and deal with it in the morning."


    Before Elodie could answer, the sound of a car horn drifted in from outside.


    Both women nced toward the window.


    Jarrod had just stepped out of his car, phone pressed to his ear, and spotted Elodie''s car parked nearby. He didn''t even blink, just continued his conversation with Maurice. "Yeah, I''ve arranged for a new designer. We''ll get fresh blueprints soon."


    He came inside and immediately spotted Elodie standing across the hall. His gaze lingered for a heartbeat before turning to his grandmother, who was beaming with barely disguised satisfaction. Clearly, she''d tricked him intoing home, but he didn''t care about such little things and simply asked, "Grandma, where did you put those books I left here?"


    Her face lit up even more. "They''re in your old bedroom. Do you need them now?" Jarrod nodded. "Yes, I do."


    She immediately sent someone to fetch them.


    Elodie nced over without meaning to. She recognized those books-they were rare, highly technical volumes on aviation, nearly impossible to find. She knew them well.


    Her grandmother didn''t ask what Jarrod wanted with those books, but turned back to Elodie. “You should stay tonight, sweetheart. I''ll have the cook make you some nourishing soup."


    Elodie shook her head, her voice gentle but resolute. "No, Grandma. I just stopped by to get the flowers. I still have work tonight, so I really can''t stay."


    Her grandmother pressed her lips together, clearly displeased. "It''s sote-what kind ofpany still has you working at this hour?"


    Elodie smiled. "It''s really fine. I''ll head out now, Grandma."


    There was nothing her grandmother could do. She shot Jarrod a look, hoping for support.


    But Jarrod was still on the phone with Maurice, barely paying attention to what was happening in the room, and didn''t even notice Elodie preparing to leave.


    His grandmother red at him, but there was nothing more to say. She ordered someone to help Elodie carry the gardenias to her car.


    Elodie''s excuse was just that-an excuse. No matter howte it was, she would never choose to stay in her ex-husband''s house.


    Meanwhile, Maurice, still on the phone with Jarrod, overheard the conversation and sounded surprised. "Elodie''s leaving thiste? I thought she''d use the chance to stay over."


    He believed Jarrod had truly wanted the divorce. But Elodie? He wasn''t so sure.


    Jarrod nced at the books the housekeeper brought him, his face calm, unmoved by Elodie''s departure. He didn''t spare her a second thought.