Chapter 21

Keith caught on quickly. “Mr. Silverstein, Ms. Thorne didn’t come up today.”

In other words, she hadn’t brought lunch at all.

Jarrod narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

Keith couldn’t help adding, “I checked with PR. They said Ms. Thorne didn’t come in to work either-she’s officially resigned. Mr. Silverstein, is Ms. Thorne throwing a tantrum with you?”

Elodie used to make her presence felt, showing up every day with lunch. Most of the time, Jarrod ignored it and let Keith deal with the food.

Resigned?

Jarrod hadn’t really taken her resignation seriously. He knew exactly how much Elodie needed this respectable, well-paid job.

But now…

She’d come to her senses soon enough.

He barely managed a careless smile, scrolling through his phone until he found Elodie’s messages from a week ago her last one, asking if he’d be home for dinner.

She’d stopped reaching out ever since he didn’t go with her to the hospital, and after he celebrated Sylvie’s birthday instead.

Keith gave a dismissive snort. “Honestly, I think Ms. Thorne’s just playing hard to get. She’ll come crawling back before long, pretending nothing happened.”

Trying to get Mr. Silverstein’s attention, huh? As if he’d care.

Jarrod stared at Elodie’s profile picture for a moment, then pocketed his phone without replying. He had no intention of checking in.

He stood up. “Book a table. I’m having dinner with Sylvie.”

He paused, then glanced back. “Maurice and Joseph went to see President Brown today, right?”

Keith nodded. “Yes, sir. Any instructions?”

Jarrod was already striding out. “Have them make introductions. Let Sylvie meet the right people.”

Keith’s knowing look spoke volumes. Only Ms. Fielding could make Mr. Silverstein put in this much effort.

That afternoon, Alexander had a last-minute business dinner and wanted Elodie to come along.

Her stomach had been acting up lately, and with the cancer diagnosis, she couldn’t drink. She made an excuse, and Alexander didn’t press; he just asked her to pick him up afterward.

For once, Elodie wandered nearby, not in any rush. She’d spent so long devoted to managing Jarrod’s every need, she’d hardly lived her own life-she even found shopping strange and unfamiliar.

Jarrod’s standards for food, clothes, and daily life had been so demanding, she’d had no energy left to think of herself.

Now, with her health uncertain, all she could do was try to enjoy life while she could.

After browsing the shops, the cold air bit at her. She wrapped her grandmother’s knitted scarf around her neck and headed back to the restaurant.

She asked about Alexander’s dinner and went upstairs.

She stopped at the doorway, overhearing laughter and conversation inside. “Mr. Silverstein clearly thinks highly of Ms. Fielding, bringing her here in person. It’s our honor to meet such an outstanding woman.”

Elodie peered through the gap. She saw Jarrod’s tall figure, his arm loosely around Sylvie’s shoulders, his gaze soft and appreciative as he looked her way.

“You two are inseparable,” someone joked. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Ms. Fielding soon became Mrs. Silverstein.”

“Mr. Silverstein’s a lucky man,” another chimed in. “With Ms. Fielding keeping things in order at home, life must be perfect.”

Jarrod’s deep voice was unhurried, almost gentle. “Sylvie’s hands aren’t meant for household chores. She has her own world to soar in.”

Elodie’s hand, clutching the doorknob, went cold.

Sylvie was born to be admired and cherished, while she-Elodie-was only ever good enough to be a housewife, running errands and keeping things tidy.

Inside, Alexander sat silently, saying nothing.

Elodie understood instantly. Since Alexander hadn’t met Sylvie today, Jarrod had made sure to introduce her, open doors for her, put her in the spotlight—no one would dare slight Sylvie now.

She drew a shaky breath. Even though she and Jarrod were about to go their separate ways, she couldn’t help feeling a pang of sorrow for her former self.

She pulled her scarf tighter around her face and hurried downstairs, hiding her pale cheeks.

A few minutes later, Alexander found her by the car, clearly annoyed. Through the windshield, he spotted a second scarf on the center console. “It’s freezing-hand me that scarf, will you?”

Elodie passed it over without a word. Jarrod never cared for it anyway, and she didn’t want her grandmother’s handiwork wasted on him.

Alexander wrapped the scarf around his neck, muttering under his breath, “Jarrod, always one step ahead. I never expected him to bring Sylvie tonight, let alone introduce her to me. Who am I compared to her?”

Meanwhile, Jarrod and his group crossed the parking lot.

Maurice was the first to notice Elodie and Alexander by the car. He quickly spotted their matching scarves and stared, wide-eyed.

“Is Elodie cheating on her husband?” he blurted, stunned.