"Grandma, I''m not joking." Elodie could tell the old woman was truly anxious now.


    "Do you remember the child I said I ''lost'' before?" she exined gently.


    As soon as the words left her lips, the room fell into stunned silence.


    After all, that child was a scar on everyone''s heart.


    Even Jarrod turned to look at her.


    Elodie met their eyes, her voice steady. "Jarrod saved the baby. He arranged for her to be taken to a specialized artificial womb program in New York, where they kept her alive with cutting-edge technology. She was safely born, and now—she''s our daughter. Nadia."


    The sprawling sitting room was utterly silent for a moment.


    Everyone''s expression was a kaleidoscope of shock and wonder.


    It took them some time to process the magnitude of this revtion.


    The world of the wealthy is full of secrets and technologies most people never even hear about. They''d seen enough strange things that, when Elodie finally revealed the truth, they could wrap their heads around it faster than most.


    Suddenly, the old woman pped her forehead and, in a rush, hurried over to where Lucinda held the baby.


    She pulled back the edge of the nket, revealing a tiny face that bore the unmistakable features of both Jarrod and Elodie.


    The little girl didn''t cry or fuss. She immediately grabbed the old woman''s finger.


    Delight lit up the old woman''s wrinkled face. "So this is our precious Silverstein great-granddaughter? Oh my, she''s such a sweetheart! Let great-grandma take a good look at you."


    Just moments ago she''d been stern and anxious; now her whole demeanor transformed.


    Elodie couldn''t help butugh at the dramatic change.


    Lucinda finally caught up to what was happening.


    She quickly joined the old woman to fuss over Nadia, an uncontainable smile blooming on her own face.


    Octavia stood frozen for a moment, then ambled over with a grin. "Nieces usually take after their aunts, don''t they?"


    But in the midst of all this-


    Rosemary suddenly pulled Elodie into a tight embrace, wiping away tears with one hand. "Elodie, you''re truly blessed. You always get what your heart longs for the world isn''t So cruel after all. Now you''ll always have someone to lean on."  s


    Her happiness was genuine.


    Atst, Elodie could live her life without regrets.


    She was free to pursue the happiness she deserved.


    Emile ruffled Elodie''s hair, then looked at Jarrod with a rare softness. "You really went above and beyond for this, Jarrod."


    The truth was-


    If not for Jarrod, Elodie''s pain would have remained a wound that never healed.


    Jarrod shook his head and squeezed Elodie''s hand in silent reassurance. "We both got what we wished for."


    With Nadia''s arrival, the cold, echoing mansion suddenly felt alive with warmth andughter.


    The old woman was so overjoyed she insisted Elodie move back into the family home, pointing out that with so many people around, there would always be someone to help care for the baby.


    Elodie nced at Jarrod, but didn''t refuse.


    The old woman even suggested that Rosemary stay for a while too, so she wouldn''t feel left out.


    At this point, what could possibly escape Rosemary''s notice?


    The ice between Jarrod and Elodie had finally thawed. Whatever had been standing between them seemed to have faded away-they must have worked through a lot.


    Not to mention, they''d managed to save the child together.<fn0c06> ?????? ???? find[?]ovel</fn0c06>


    What more could she ask for?


    The whole family gathered for a lively, joyous dinner to celebrate the good news.


    Octavia eyed Nadia in her rocking cradle, still chewing on her fork as


    she quipped, "So you don''t have to


    go through those miserableset


    months of pregnancy, or the pain of childbirth? Honestly, that''s a pretty sweet deal."  s


    She knew her brother all too well by now.


    He''d always yed it cool,


    pretending not to care while loving fiercely beneath the surface. He''d fooled the whole family, and now Octavia felt embarrassed just thinking about it. If they hadn''t all misunderstood Elodie''s intentions before, or thought she''d schemed her way into the family-if Jarrod hadn''t seemed so indifferent-maybe things would never have gotten so awkward between her and Elodie.


    belongs to s


    Now, talking to Elodie felt strangely difficult, so she stiffened her neck and


    deliberately avoided meeting her eyes.