Elodie''s emotions were a tangled mess she couldn''t begin to describe.


    She''d never wanted her past with Jarrod to be public. Thest thing she needed was moreplications, but now, with her grandmother unaware of their divorce—and bound by the terms of the agreement-Elodie couldn''t even exin the truth. With that thin veil now ripped away, she and Jarrod were bound to be the center of attention.


    That was the clever cruelty of Jarrod''s divorce agreement. Whichever way she turned, she was trapped.


    She couldn''t even rify that they were divorced.


    "Everyone, please turn off your phones," Maurice cut in, quick to react. He''d thought of the influencers and minor celebrities he''d invited today and wasted no time turning to them. "Let''s not make any wild guesses about what just happened. It''s all a misunderstanding."


    He hurried off to try and contain the chaos. After all, it involved Jarrod, and thest thing he wanted was a public spectacle.


    But it was already toote.


    A young woman, more socialite than friend, hesitated before speaking up. "I didn''t manage to end my livestream in time... I think it all went out live."


    Maurice''s brow furrowed. If it was streamed, then there was a good chance clips were already circting online.


    Sylvie realized it, too, and her expression soured further.


    The matriarch swept the room with a steely gaze. Her voice was calm but brooked no dissent. "In that case, to avoid any further misunderstandings, we won''t keep Ms. Fielding here any longer. Please, see yourself out."


    She might as well have put up a neon sign: Sylvie was being dismissed.


    No one missed the way the olddy shielded Elodie. And while she called it all a "misunderstanding," everyone heard the word "mistress" just moments ago. It was clear who didn''t belong, whocked any im to legitimacy.


    At this point, there was no need for anyone to spell it out. Both families had their dignity to consider.


    One thing was certain: Sylvie would never win the Silversteins'' favor. "Maurice, see Sylvie home," Jarrod said atst, his tone unreadable.


    Maurice understood; the longer this dragged on, the worse it could get.


    Sylvie said nothing, her fists clenched tight. As she left, she shot Jarrod a long, searching look. She trusted him to fix this mess-but then her gaze slid to Elodie.


    Her eyes went cold, edged with biting mockery.


    Elodie had set her up, and she knew it.


    She''d orchestrated this little scene ruined Sylvie''s ns, humiliated ker in front of everyone, and forced Jarrod''s hand. Elodie was even more ruthless than she''d imagined.


    Absolutely shameless.


    Elodie didn''t spare Sylvie so much as a nce.


    Let her think whatever she wanted.


    "Now that everything''s clear, let''s get back to enjoying ourselves," the Silverstein matriarch announced, her posture impable and her


    expression returning to gentle


    hospitality. "The Silverstein family is covering everything tonight. Don''t let a minor interruption spoityour evening."


    Everyone murmured their agreement.


    But Elodie had no interest in staying.


    She turned to her grandmother. "I''d like to leave now."


    Her grandmother squeezed her hand. "Come home with me."


    Elodie knew she wanted to talk. Now that the truth was out, there was no more pretending.


    The matriarch nced at Jarrod,


    who hadn''t shown a flicker of


    annoyance throughout the Ordel


    "You''reing, too."


    Jarrod didn''t object.


    He turned to Joseph, still lingering nearby. "Maurice will be back soon. You all go ahead and have fun."


    Joseph''s eyes flickered over Elodie. "Sure thing."


    Elodie walked past Naylor and Grady without a word, treating them as if they were invisible.


    Their faces were pale, then flushed, still reeling from the fallout, struggling to ept the new reality.