As soon as she set foot in headquarters, it was clear: stepping inside meant she''d


    be forced to split power with Jarrod, and everyone on the board would be watching, ready to switch loyalties at a moment''s notice.


    For Jarrod, it was a future full of hidden dangers and trouble.


    She wasn''t about to let that happen.


    This was his chessboard, but she would keep it steady.


    Even Lucinda, usually soposed, found herself ncing at Elodie with aplicated expression. Elodie''s hand, resting on the table, was only just regaining color; her entire body seemed on the verge of copse-frail, sickly, yet somehow holding everything together.


    She was running on nothing but pure willpower.


    Lucinda realized, with a shock, that she''d never truly seen Elodie before-not like this.


    Now, with Elodie stepping up as their guarantee and smoothing things over so seamlessly, anyone raising objections would be painting a target on their back. If Mr. Silverstein returned and decided to settle scores, being the one who stood out would only bring disaster.


    Who in the room didn''t understand that?


    Everyone exchanged wary nces.


    Finally, President Burke-who Lucinda had already briefed-broke the silence. "If Ms. Thorne is willing to guarantee this, I have no objections."


    Once he spoke, the rest of the board quietly reconsidered. One after another, they nodded. "Let Ms. Thorne handle it. If she can''t, we''ll revisit the backup n."


    The bnce of power shifted again.


    Anyone with sense knew what the right move was now.


    No one wanted to be the scapegoat in the Silverstein family''s internal struggle. Who would volunteer for that?


    The meeting, for now, had its answer.


    Sprague clenched his jaw, shooting Elodie a cold re. "You and Jarrod really are cut from the same cloth."


    Elodie smiled faintly. "I''ll take that as apliment."


    Carney, on the other hand, was so furious he mmed his hand on the table and stormed out.


    Sprague had never imagined Elodie would show up, let alone that she''d have the strength to turn the tables. He hadn''t even managed to pull off a surprise attack- the timing was all wrong. Elodie had been one step ahead, forcing him out.


    If things had gone as he''d nned, he''d already be in headquarters by now,


    carving out a piece of Jarrod''s power and resources for himself, nibbling away at the empire.


    But now-


    Everything had copsed.


    Sprague''s fists tightened so hard his knuckles whitened.


    He couldn''t help but think: if only, a few years ago, he''d just run Elodie off the road -none of this would be happening now.


    Elodie paid no attention to him.


    Truthfully, she was barely holding herself together.


    As she turned to leave, her step faltered, and her lips lost what little color they had left.


    Lucinda noticed, frowning as she reached out to steady her. "You''re burning up." Candida''s voice trembled with worry. "Ms. Thorne, you really don''t look well. You need to get back to the hospital-now!"


    Beforeing here, Ms. Thorne had


    don a painkiller injection just


    to get through the meeting. She''d been running on empty for hours.


    Lucinda could see just how bad things were. She shot Andrea a look. "Go get the


    car ready. We''re taking her to the hospital."


    Elodie tried to wave her off. "I''m fine."


    Andrea was already gone, moving fast.


    Lucinda needed to stay behind to wrap up the aftermath at Silverstein Group''s headquarters, making sure no loose ends remained.


    Elodie ended up back at the hospital.


    But she didn''t go to her room.


    News hade: Jarrod was finally out of intensive care.


    Her IV had just finished up; she


    asked the nurse to remove the


    needle told Andrea to take Candida


    home, and then, bracing herself,


    made her way to Jarrod''s room alone.


    Sitting beside his bed, she took in the pale, handsome face, so close to waking.


    "Don''t worry," she whispered. "I kept everything safe for you."


    She nced at his hand, the one resting by his side. She touched the IV taped to


    his skin, then ran her fingers along the lines of his wrist.


    "So,” she murmured, "when are you going to wake up?"


    He didn''t answer, of course.


    Elodie lowered her head, fighting back tears.


    "Jarrod, when you wake up, let''s talk. Really talk."


    Just as the words left her lips, the door opened.


    Elias Warwick entered, having heard the news.


    Elodie looked up, her eyes rimmed red-vulnerable and exhausted.


    Elias paused, momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovered. "Elodie, you''re in no shape to be here. The surgery we scheduled-it''s tomorrow."