Watts shot her a cold nce, then turned on his heel and walked away without another word. He clearly had no interest in further conversation.


    Elodie stepped outside with Jarrod. Andrea headed off to get the car.


    Jarrod had already finished a call with Jeremiah. His instructions were brief: "Keep an eye on the victim''s family."


    Once the call ended, he turned to Elodie. She met his gaze, exhaled, and finally asked, “If I hadn''t found out, were you ever nning to tell me you''d helped me back then?"


    Jarrod slipped one hand casually into his pocket, his tone even and unhurried. "I thought about keeping it to myself."


    Elodie studied his face, searching for any sign of emotion. "We weren''t even close at the time."


    At most, they''d only met a couple of times-just polite encounters thanks to their families'' old friendship from the war.


    Jarrod didn''t say anything.


    Elodie, lost in thought, blurted, "Did you have a crush on me?"


    Right then, Andrea pulled up in the car.


    Jarrod finally looked down at her, his eyes steady, not the least bit awkward or evasive. "Should I have filled out a request for that?"


    Elodie was momentarily speechless. She''d only meant it as a half-joking probe— turns out he actually answered her seriously.


    But today...


    "Back there, you had my back," Jarrod remarked in his usual calm way.


    She''d acted quickly, helping him regain control of the negotiation and taking back the advantage in the marketce.


    Watts''s move had been a big one. If they hadn''t managed to produce evidence, Eldrion Global would have walked away as the sole winner. The truth was, if she and Jarrod hadn''t presented a united front-or if they''d let their differences show -things could have gone very badly.


    That, too, had been part of Watts''s n.


    Elodie didn''t bother denying it. "Do you really think I can''t tell what matters?"


    Her frankness made Jarrod raise an eyebrow, mildly impressed.


    A momentter, Jarrod''s phone rang again. He picked up and listened, then replied, "Understood. Go handle it in person. The family won''t pursue charges. Make sure they receive the highestpensation possible, and issue a statementter."


    He hung up and turned to Elodie. "Do you have time? Could youe back to the house with me?"


    Elodie looked puzzled. "Is something going on?"


    "My grandmother''s birthday


    celebration is nearly set. We need to be there together." He paused, his eyes softening a fraction. "Afterward, you won''t have to keep going along with this arrangement."


    Elodie understood-he was saying that, once the party was over, they could finally settle things between them. Because of the baby, they''d agreed to keep up appearances for a while longer, but after that... it would be time to draw a clear line.


    She couldn''t me him for being hurt by her cold decision.


    "Alright." She dropped her gaze, her eyes drifting to her own stomach, lost in thought for a moment. Before getting into the car, she nced at him. "About the ident..."


    Hearing her ready agreement, Jarrod swallowed, then reached up to steady her by the car roof. "Tell me, apart from Watts, who else stands to gain from this?"


    Elodie caught the implication. Clearly, Watts wasn''t the only one trying to take them down.


    It was moreplicated than she''d realized.


    She nodded, then climbed into the car.


    Once they were settled inside, Elodie finally asked, "The man who died in the ident-what''s the real story? Did you find out?"


    She''d overheard enough from the calls to know he must have gotten some


    answers.


    Jarrod''s dark eyes narrowed. "He was terminally illte-stage cancer."


    At those words, Elodie''s hand tightened unconsciously on her knee.


    "He only had a couple of months left. His daughter is seventeen, and she has leukemia. Her treatment costsa fortune. If he died of illness, his wife wouldn''t be able to afford it. But if he died in a workce ident thepensation would be enough to pay for the care."


    Elodie understood instantly.


    So he''d sacrificed himself, trading his own life for a chance to save his daughter.


    Someone must have found him, desperate enough to strike a deal.


    She lowered her gaze, hiding her thoughts.


    As someone who''d faced a life-threatening illness herself, she knew exactly what


    it felt like to be that desperate.


    And what about her? After what her body had been through, would she even have


    a chance if she needed surgery again?


    "Jarrod," she said suddenly, her voice softer.


    He turned to her. "What is it? You look so serious."