Charlie ended the call, his expression stony.


    He turned to Elodie. "After the VistaLink Technologies project wraps up, would you be interested in working on military aircraft?"


    Elodie raised an eyebrow.


    Alexander immediately bristled. "Are you trying to steal my team?”


    Charlie barely spared his son a nce. He looked only at Elodie. "Just think about


    it. No rush. If you''re interested, I''ll take you to meet some folks at the Defense Department."


    To him, Elodie''s potential was limitless. VistaLink Technologies was only her first step.


    This time, Elodie didn''t answer right away. She fell silent, lost in thought.


    If she could follow her ambition, she would have said yes without hesitation. But her illness was a ticking time bomb. There were too many variables she had to consider, too many responsibilities she couldn''t ignore. She needed to think it through, seriously and carefully.


    When theynded in Eldermere, it was alreadyte. Alexander drove Elodie home.


    As soon as she stepped inside, Elodie took out the jade ne Jarrod had given her, snapped a photo, and sent it to Rosemary, asking her to check it carefully.


    Rosemary called back almost immediately, her voice trembling with excitement. "Elodie, where did you find this? It really is the set! Your great-grandfather lost it ages ago—he only managed to give your grandmother the ring. The ne was missing for decades, how on earth..."


    Elodie was stunned. It was real?


    How did Jarrod know it matched her grandmother''s heirloom ring? Where had he found it?


    Her mind spun. This birthday gift was far more precious and meaningful than she''d imagined.


    She hesitated only a moment before calling Keith.


    If she were still married, she wouldn''t have cared. But now, the divorce was final, and the assets had been divided. If Jarrod had given her any other kind of jewelry, she would have sent it straight back. But this was the family heirloom her grandmother had lost-she didn''t know what to do.


    She needed to ask Jarrod where he''d found it, and how much he''d paid for it. She didn''t want to owe him for something like this.


    Keith answered. "Ms. Thorne?"


    Elodie stared at the ne. "Is Jarrod there?"


    Keith hesitated, then said, "Mr. Silverstein is busy at the moment."


    Elodie paused, about to ask Keith to pass on a message, when she heard Sylvie''s voice in the background-warm, exasperated, and happy. "Jarrod, take a break. You''re working yourself too hard over this."


    Elodie''s face betrayed nothing. She acted as if she hadn''t heard a thing. "Please ask Jarrod to send me the receipt for the ne when he has a moment. Thank you."


    She didn''t say another word. She felt no curiosity about whatever Sylvie was referring to.


    The next day, Elodie arrived at VistaLink Technologies and confirmed the past three days'' progress with Esmeralda.


    Everything was on track.


    That morning, she got a message from Freya inviting her out for afternoon tea. The girl wanted to ask her advice about choosing a major—specifically, whether she should focus on drones or aerospace engineering.


    Elodie thought for a moment, then replied, "Sure. See you this afternoon."


    As for Mr. Charlie Sterling''s proposal about military defense work... that would require even more time and energy.


    She weighed it carefully.


    Then she messaged her doctor: "I''d like to confirm if I have a total hysterectomy, will my chances of recovery be higher?"


    A whileter, the doctor replied, "In theory, yes."


    Elodie curled her cold fingers into her palm. Her heartbeat, chaotic moments ago, finally steadied.


    She typed back: "Can I schedule the surgery now?"