Sylvie emerged from the building, her gaze icy as she swept a nce over Elodie. With an air of haughty indifference, she strode straight to the waiting car.


    Elodie recognized the vehicle immediately.


    One of Jarrod''s cars.


    Clearly, Sylvie had no intention of catching a ride back with the Neural Intelligence team. Jarrod had sent a car just for her.


    Alexander''s brow tightened.


    A personal driver sent just to pick her up for a date? Even after their affair had been publicly exposed, Jarrod was still going out of his way for Sylvie?


    He kept his thoughts to himself.


    Elodie, unfazed by the little scene, climbed into the car and immediately began strategizing about what kind of proposal would give them the edge in the next round.


    Just as she settled in, she noticed a missed call from Watts.


    It hade in a couple of hours earlier.


    She''d silenced her phone and hadn''t noticed it.


    Watts hadn''t tried again after that.


    Elodie reasoned that if it had been a work emergency, he could have reached Alexander or Esmeralda. If it was just personal-


    She decided not to call back.


    Sometimes, you had to maintain a certain distance, so as not to give the other party the wrong impression.


    When they were back at VistaLink Technologies,


    Esmeralda brought news.


    "Louisa Barnes-President Barnes-you remember her, right?"


    Elodie nced up, a little puzzled. "Of course. Mr. Aldridge''s boss."


    Esmeralda handed her a digital invitation.


    The Barnes family was hosting a public art exhibition-apparently, someone in the family was an artist.


    "Want to go? It''s this weekend. We could treat it like a little outing." Esmeralda clung to Elodie''s arm, coaxing her with puppy-dog eyes.


    Elodie considered it. Art had always interested her, probably because her mother was in the field. The invitation was already there, so she nodded. "Sure."


    When the weekend arrived,


    Elodie and Esmeralda found themselves at the venue.


    As they walked, Esmeralda exined, “This museum was actually founded by the Barnes


    family. Normally, it exhibits work et


    from renowned artists-both local


    and international. Today, though, the Barnes family is showcasing their own collection."


    The Barnes family was old money-the kind that could afford avish museum. On regr days, the ce rented out space for all kinds of exhibitions.


    Inside, Elodie was genuinely impressed by the artwork on disy. She wandered the halls, taking it all in.


    The oil paintings were intensely realistic, and the visual impact was striking.


    She studied the brushwork, feeling as though some deeper part of the artist''s spirit had pierced through the canvas, reaching straight into her nerves.


    She nced at the signature: Aurelia.


    A powerful, distinctive style.


    A sudden urge welled up in her-she wanted to meet the artist.


    "Ms. Thorne?" A woman''s warm, low voice sounded behind her.


    Elodie turned to see Louisa standing nearby, appraising her with a keen gaze before offering a faint smile. "We meet again. I''ve been hearing quite a bit about youtely, Ms. Thorne."


    Both professionally and thanks to recent rumors-personally.


    Elodie had always respected Louisa. She nodded. "President Barnes."


    Louisa''s impression of Elodie was genuinely positive. She asked, "Last time, I inquired about the developer behind that flight control system. No wonder you didn''t answer-you''re full of surprises, Ms. Thorne."


    Elodie deflected with modesty. "You tter me, President Barnes."


    "I''ve also heard some things about you and Mr. Silverstein, from The Silverstein Group," Louisa remarked, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly.


    Elodie replied steadily, "It doesn''t matter. I am who I am."


    Louisa understood what she meant, and smiled. "You''re living with real rity. I believe you have a bright future ahead, Ms. Thorne."


    She wasn''t defined by her husband''s name. She was Elodie.


    And that was already impressive-perhaps even more than anyone realized.


    The gallery was filling up. Louisa, of course, knew everyone. And now, everyone


    was watching as President Barnes showed such appreciation for a young


    neer.


    Just then,


    Louisa nced across the room, raising her brows with a hint of amusement. "Ms. Thorne, your husband''s here too."