She ignored the way Sylvie''s face fell.


    With a brisk turn, Esmeralda climbed into her car. Just looking at her foolish brother made her blood boil; she mmed the gas, letting a cloud of exhaust billow behind her as she sped off down the street.


    Yet, the incident left an unspoken sting in everyone''s mind-a barb that lingered long after.


    Sylvie kept her gaze lowered, lost in thought.


    She figured it must have been the buzz of her family''s art exhibition that set Elodie


    off. Maybe the spectacle got under her skin, prompting that brazen, boastful speech.


    All posturing, really.


    Did Elodie really think getting into this field was as easy as picking apples at the market? Anyone could just waltz in and im a spot?


    Maurice gave a low whistle, ncing over at Sylvie. "Feels like we just got hustled... What''s your take?"


    Sylvie finally stepped up beside Jarrod, her tone steady and cool. "Ambition''s fine, but making grand promises in front of a crowd without considering what happens if you fail? That''s reckless-almost childish."


    She didn''t take it seriously. In truth, she looked down on it.


    Still, Sylvie shot Maurice a thoughtful look. "Has she always been this unrealistic?"


    Maurice hesitated, his eyes flicking to Jarrod, who stood off to the side, eyes downcast, lost in his own thoughts.


    Jarrod clearly couldn''t care less about the whole spectacle. He hadn''t even nced in Elodie''s direction as she left. Judging by hisck of reaction, he probably found her derationughable.


    As for how Elodie used to be...


    She''d always been mild, unremarkable-never one to stand out. Even Maurice thought she''d acted a bit rash today. How was she nning to save face when this all blew up? There was no doubt how things would end.


    He decided to change the subject. "You said you invited Mr. Whitaker and the others, right? Didn''t see them today."


    Sylvie paused, then nodded. "Yeah, he said he had ast-minute business trip, but he sent his congrattions."


    As for Watts...


    She''d included him in the group invitation, but he never replied. Probably too busy, she figured. Surely he wasn''t just ignoring her to y coy.


    Esmeralda pieced together the story as she drove.


    She pped the steering wheel and snorted. "Looks like Sylvie''s family really believes she''s a shoo-in for the program-otherwise her mother wouldn''t have bragged the way she did in front of all those industry bigwigs, acting like it''s all but guaranteed."


    Selma-now there was a woman who''d wed her way up from nothing, always seizing any chance to polish her image and collect des for herself.


    Elodie rolled down the window, letting the wind whip through her hair as she narrowed her eyes against the breeze.


    Truth was, she wasn''t angry or desperate to prove herself because of the exhibition. She knew all too well how everyone loved topare her with Sylvie- how, in thoseparisons, Sylvie always seemed toe out on top. She understood exactly what Selma and her daughter were after, what effect they wanted to create.


    Her public deration that she''d also apply for the graduate program wasn''t some spur-of-the-moment boast. It was a deliberate move-a way to force Selma and Sylvie into the spotlight, to make their so-called “ambiguous support from the board," the "slot reserved for Sylvie," and all the whispered expectations that she''d be Mr. Sterling''s protégé, look even more obvious.


    By stepping up and making her own im, Elodie ensured that if Sylvie failed, it would be that much more humiliating. She was never one for pointless arguments. She preferred to strike at the heart of things.


    If Selma and Sylvie liked to show off, she''d help them put on an even bigger show.


    As for the current wave of ridicule-she wasn''t Sylvie. She didn''t have time to fret over empty gossip.


    The oue was all that mattered.