He was ready to risk it all.


    Grady didn''t know every detail of Sylvie''s situation. But he was certain: with her temperament, there was no way she could have done such a thing. Sylvie was a rare genius-why would she ever need to giarize Elodie? What could she possibly gain from that?


    "My sister gets along well with Elodie. Maybe she can convince her to ease up,” Grady said, rubbing his forehead in frustration. He was sure there had to be a way out of this mess.


    But Sylvie wouldn''t hear any of it. All she could focus on was that one word Grady had said: "responsibility."


    Her face had gone ghostly pale. The facts were right in front of her, impossible to deny. She''d tried not to believe Jarrod''s im about there being someone else involved, but now that it was Grady, she scrambled for any reason she could stomach—maybe Jarrod was just angry with her, and that''s why he''d said it. So really... it was Grady who had ruined her! He''d destroyed everything she had going for her, even her rtionship.


    Hatred flickered in her eyes as she suddenly shoved Grady away. "Who do you think you are? There''s no way anything happened between us that night! What makes you think you could everpare to Jarrod? Why would I ever choose you?"


    Grady stared at her, stunned, unable to believe what he was hearing.


    Sylvie''sposure crumpled, her words spilling out, wild and uncontrolled. "Grady, I''ll use you of assault if you don''t stay away from me!"


    She didn''t bother to look at Grady''s face as it froze with shock and hurt. Instead, she staggered out, heading blindly toward home.


    Grady never imagined he''d see this side of Sylvie-hysterical, irrational, utterly unrecognizable.


    That night... she''d been the one toe into his room. She''d been the one to wrap her arms around him.


    He hadn''t even been supposed to be in that room; a staff member hade by mid-evening to tell him there''d been ast-minute change, and he''d agreed to switch. When Sylvie showed up, he''d been surprised thrilled, even-but confusion lingered. Still, selfishly, he''d let himself go along with it.


    And now... all of it was being thrown back in his face.


    He never thought Sylvie would use him of something so vile. Of course he was hurt.


    He just couldn''t understand how could Sylvie have changed so much?


    Sylvie stumbled through the front door in a daze.


    On the way home, she''d already made up her mind. She was out of options— Jarrod had given up on her. Or maybe, she admitted bitterly, he''d never truly cared in the first ce.


    Even if he decided to pursue the


    terms of their bet, she couldn''t


    way,


    afford to lose herst safety. She needed to sell the apartment as quick as possible; at least that she could hold onto the cash for a little while, even if Jarrod tried to im it aspensatioter. If she moved fast enough, he wouldn''t be able to act in time.


    But just as she stepped inside, a panicked voice rang out-Selma''s, desperate


    and trembling. "What do you people want from us?"


    Sylvie''s heart lurched. She rushed into the living room and found several men in impable suits already there.


    Selma was livid, her face white as a


    sheet. When she saw Sylvie, she hurried to her side. "Sylvie, what is


    going on? These men say they''re


    from the court-they''vee to seize the property..."


    Sylvie''s face drained of color. "The court? I never received a summons, and I''ve


    never been to any hearing about this. On what grounds are you here?"


    One of the men produced a


    document and handed it to her. "Please review this. You and Mr. Silverstein have a creditor-debtor rtionship. Several months ago, Mr. Silverstein notarized the agreement, which gives this document the force ofw. Since you have not fulfilled your obligations, the creditor is entitled to request immediate enforcement."


    Sylvie froze, her expression shattering in an instant.


    Jarrod had actually... notarized it?