If this wasn''t handled properly, Elodie knew she could never bear the


    consequences.


    This time, she was forced to look up at him, her eyes cold and sharp. "Are you saying VistaLink Technologies did this? Or are you ming me?"


    Ivan frowned dismissively and stepped closer, his hand reaching out to grip her shoulder with unmistakable force. "Does it matter? I don''t care what actually happened. I want you to cut all ties with VistaLink Technologies-now. If you do, you can have any position you want at TerraGreen Solutions. Name it."


    Elodie pulled back instantly, her bodynguage making it clear she rejected his so-called generosity.


    After all these years as siblings, Ivan still didn''t really understand her.


    She couldn''t be bothered to argue. Sliding past him, she walked away without another word.


    Ivan couldn''t fathom what exactly Elodie was being so stubborn about. His handsome features darkened as he watched her go.


    Elodie''s stubbornness hadn''t changed since she was a child. Once she set her mind on something, she''d see it through no matter the cost, even if it meant running headlong into disaster without ever admitting the pain. He wanted her to face the hard truth, but sometimes, things weren''t so simple.


    Pressing his lips into a thin line, he finally pulled out his phone and found Jarrod''s number.


    For a moment, Ivan just stared at the contact. Then he dialed.


    Across town, Sylvie received word that the documents had already been delivered to Elodie.


    She found the whole situation faintly ridiculous. VistaLink Technologies was a giant in the industry-yet they''d gone ahead and made Elodie their scapegoat. Sylvie had no intention of creating trouble for Elodie, but it was hard to turn her away when the opportunitynded right on her doorstep.


    Terrence, on the other hand, insisted on a satisfactory resolution.


    Since VistaLink Technologies had tossed Elodie to the wolves, the conflict was no longer between Neural Intelligence and VistaLink Technologies-it was personal, between them and Elodie. That suited Sylvie just fine; she had never wanted to cross Alexander in the first ce.


    If she could use this to curry favor, all the better.


    "Is everything ready?" Selma asked, lounging back on her hospital bed. She looked thoroughly pleased. After all, she''d once bested Winifred Thorne, and now her own daughter was poised to trample Elodie. It was a delicious feeling.


    Sylvie''s eyes stayed glued to herptop screen, fingers flying over the keys as she replied, "Everything''s in order."


    "Then Elodie''s reputation in the field will be shattered," Selma said, flipping a page in her book, a smile tugging at her lips. “She''d only just be Mr. Sterling''s grad student, and now this happens? Even the academy will have to think twice about keeping her."


    At this rate, Elodie would be cklisted from the entire field-she wouldn''t even be qualified to carry her daughter''s briefcase.


    "Who knows," Sylvie replied, her tonepletely unconcerned. "But Alexander really has abandoned her. Maybe the academy will too."


    This was what happened when Elodie tried to w her way up by relying on a man.


    In the end, she was just digging her own grave.


    "If that''s the case, once the Silverstein family finds out, there''s no way they''ll let her keep that ''Mrs. Silverstein'' title and drag their name through the mud," Selma scoffed. "She probably be kicked out for good."


    Sylvie didn''t bother responding.


    If it weren''t for Henrietta, Jarrod would never have spared Elodie a second chance-Sylvie knew that perfectly well. Elodie had never really been herpetition.


    Just as she was about to get up, her phone rang. ncing at the disy, she saw


    andline number. Without thinking much, she answered, "Hello, who is this?"


    A clipped, official voice came


    through: "Ms. Sylvie? This is the


    Federal Criminal Enforcement Agency: We are investigating a case of corporate trade secret theft involving Vista Link Technologies. You are a person of interest. Please report to our office for questioning at 3 PM today."


    Sylvie''s face went pale.


    Elodie... had gone straight to the authorities?!