That was enough to finally get under Elodie''s skin. "Mr. Silverstein, you''re not really about to bring up that whole ''cruise incident'' with me, are you?"


    Jarrod hadn''t said anything outright yet, but now that the wound was open, there was no use pretending nothing had happened. She figured she might as well take the initiative—it was better than waiting for him to strike first.


    This time, Jarrod''s lips seemed to curve, though his expression remained unreadable.


    Elodie looked at him calmly, her words slow but resolute, making her stance unmistakably clear. "We''re both adults. We''ve been married for three years. If you really want to keep score, here''s where I stand: it wouldn''t matter if it were you or anyone else—the result would be the same. I think you know I''m not the type to cling or make a scene, so you can rx. Whatever happened between us, it won''t affect whates next."


    Whether or not Jarrod was worried about it, she intended toy her cards on the table.


    Jarrod''sshes lifted, his eyes bottomless. "I guess I''m old-fashioned. Can''t say I''m as ''modern'' as you."


    Elodie hadn''t expected him totch onto that. Shouldn''t he be focused on herst sentence-that nothing would change the oue?


    But she didn''t bother to let hisment slide. Her reply was as cool and cutting as if she were talking to a stranger. "Mr. Silverstein, if your mind and your body were ever in agreement, then maybe you''d have the right to say that."


    Jarrod understood the implication. She was alluding to the physical side of his rtionship with Sylvie. Clearly, she hadn''t listened to a word he''d said at dinner —or at least, she didn''t believe him. And her attitude toward the two of them going forward was as cold and hard as stone.


    He tilted his head, regarding her with an almost casual air that still managed toe across as oddly serious. "So, have you been checking under my bed? Which one, exactly? Is there room for me to have a look myself?"


    His tone was unhurried, even refined, but somehow the words carried an undercurrent of something else.


    Elodie frowned, confused by his sudden shift-he rarely spoke like this, and she wasn''t sure what he was getting at.


    Jarrod nced up at the ring ceiling light before speaking again. "Elodie, I''m not joking."


    She understood what he meant. But....


    "It doesn''t matter," Elodie said, raising her head again. "Whether it happened or not, the hurt was real. We should be grateful we didn''t keep dragging this out. Jarrod, I don''t care anymore. I think you know that."


    Conversations like this-they''d never had one before. For the first time, he saw, clear as day, just how indifferent and detached she''d


    be. Maybe it was just the harsh


    light, but it stung.


    Elodie didn''t bother arguing about who was right or wrong. She simply reached for the car keys in his hand.


    Jarrod watched her, lifting his hand a little, but stayed rational and dropped the previous topic-as if nothing had happened, he asked, "What do you think of Watts?"


    She looked up, her face impassive, and answered truthfully, "He''s smart, tall, handsome good genes."


    A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "That your criteria for picking a future father for your kids?"


    A rare bit of dry humor from him, and the words hung between them with an odd note of ambiguity.


    Elodie snatched the car keys from his hand.


    "That''s my business. Let''s keep our distance from now on."


    She turned and walked away.


    Jarrod watched her for a few seconds, not bothered by her words. "Elodie, just-


    be careful. People aren''t always what they seem."


    After all, Elodie hadn''t given him a definite answer, and she clearly wasn''t keen on


    discussing any of it further. He didn''t mind repeating himself.


    Elodie paused for a split second, but didn''t look back or respond.


    At home, she showered, watered her nts, and only after a flurry of chores did she finally sit down for a moment''s rest. Not that she could really rx. Klein had said there were some follow-up background checks, and she needed to organize her paperwork for submission.


    She had no idea how long the review process would take. Even if things moved fast, the ce she was headed was strict andplicated-she''d be lucky if it only took a month.


    There was just one problem...


    Since the review involved her personal information, her divorce would be public knowledge within the organization. After all, she and Jarrod had been forced to y the happy couple" for appearances'' sake more than oncetely.