He was, in fact, the first in the Silverstein family to truly understand just how much Jarrod valued Elodie.
"So, big brother, do you have any ns now that you''re back?" Jarrod''s tone was as casual as ever, as if nothing unusual had happened. You couldn''t read a single emotion on his face.
Sometimes, Sprague genuinely found this side of Jarrod infuriating.
He was always so calm and collected, never ruffled yet every move was calcted, ruthless when it counted.
"Worried I''ll shake things up?" Sprague chuckled lightly, his wordsced with teasing.
Jarrod nced at him, unhurried and cool. "As long as you''re not still holding a grudge. Back then, things got pretty ugly for you. With youing home, there''s bound to be some talk. I suppose you''ll have to put up with the gossip for a while."
He might as well have branded the word "loser" across Sprague''s forehead. Sprague''s smile didn''t falter.
But he knew.
His defeat back then had entertained plenty of people.
Even though he was older than Jarrod by a year, he''d still ended up exiled
overseas.
"How could I hold a grudge? We''re family, after all. What kind of brother keeps score with his own sibling?" Sprague replied smoothly, giving nothing away.
Jarrod wasn''t interested in that kind of empty titude.
He''d always expected Sprague and his crew woulde back. The day he sent them abroad, he knew it wouldn''tst. Nobody just epts being banished, being cast out for good.
Sprague gave Jarrod a friendly pat on the shoulder, then turned and walked back to the drawing room.
Jarrod didn''t follow right away.
He stood there quietly for a while, lost in thought.
Back then, he''d been overwhelmed, barely keeping his head above water. Everything seemed to pile up at once. Elodie''s ident hade out of nowhere-a disaster he never sawing. Before he''d even cemented his position, he was already fighting vicious, S underhanded battles behind closed doors. Sprague knew Elodie was Jarrod''s weakness. He would never stay abroad forever, never ept being under someone else''s thumb. Coming back was inevitable-and Jarrod knew Sprague wouldn''t hesitate to use Elodie as leverage.
It was around that time that Jarrod made up his mind: Elodie had to learn to stand
on her own, to be strong before anyone could use her against him. She couldn''t stay sheltered under his protection forever.
Once Elodie''s talents and status started being recognized by those at the top,
even Sprague would have to think twice before making a move. He wouldn''t dare act rashly.
And on top of everything else...
While he was locked in a cutthroat
struggle with Sprague-managing to send him away-Jarrod stumbled upon Elodie''sptop. Then there was Patricia Aldridge, a ticking time bomb with her unpredictable health. It was an exhausting storm of crises, both from inside and outside the family.
Everything came crashing down at once.
There''s no such thing as harmony in a family this powerful. Everyone smiles while hiding a knife behind their back.
Jarrod had to deal with the fiercepetition within the Silverstein Group, fend off Sprague''s schemes, protect Elodie, and, on top of it all, manage the mess with Ivan Harcourt-which nearly drove him to a breakdown.
Looking back now...
That period really was brutal.
Now that Sprague and his allies had returned, he had to keep his guard up.
Rubbing his temples, Jarrod finally turned and walked into the drawing room. Elodie was still inside, after all.
Just then, the family matriarch sent Elodie out to find Jarrod.
The two nearly collided in the hallway.
Jarrod instinctively reached out, steadying her by the waist before letting go. Elodie met his calm gaze.
Jarrod had never onceshed out or med her for not wanting a child. The subject simply faded away, unspoken, as if by silent agreement between them.
She hadn''t taken his coldness today to heart. Making sure no one was watching, she asked quietly, "Do you n to tell Grandma about us soon? Today might be a good chance I actually came over nning to talk to her about it, but since you''re here,
I wanted to see if you had anything in mind."