She instantly recognized that silhouette-it was Sylvie, no doubt about it.

Especially after Maurice’s text: “Come help brainstorm.”

They were probably going over how to gut and remodel that house from the ground up.

Truth be told, she’d already guessed as much when the old lady called earlier. Jarrod had bulldozed their marital home to build something brand new for Sylvie. After all, that place had one of the best locations in all of Eldermere.

There was nothing to fault about it.

“So you’re just letting her move into the house where you and Jarrod lived for three years? Planning to pack her up and move her in?” Alexander couldn’t help but frown. “Looks like Jarrod’s in even more of a hurry to get divorced than you are.”

Elodie looked away. “He’s torn the place apart. Renovations will take at least a few months.”

This was probably the phase where Sylvie, the soon-to-be lady of the house, got to pick out her own design.

“Not leaving a shred of sentiment, huh. Even if you kept a cat or a dog for three years, you’d have some feelings for it.” Alexander’s tone was biting, his expression cold.

Elodie just shook her head. She didn’t want to dwell on it anymore.

That evening, she stayed late at the office, catching up on work.

The project was running smoothly.

She also needed to start making plans for grad school.

Around eight, her phone lit up with a call from Keith.

Since Jarrod had changed his number, Keith was the only one who contacted her.

There was still paperwork to finalize for the divorce, so Elodie couldn’t ignore these calls.

She picked up. “What does he want?”

A low, indifferent voice came through. “It’s me.”

Elodie paused. “Okay. What is it?”

Jarrod’s tone was measured, unhurried. “The gardenias in the backyard-you were taking care of them, right? Do you want them?”

She’d nearly forgotten.

Since she’d moved out, Cara had been tending the house.

Back then, her health had been so bad that she’d suffered a breakdown, leaving

much of what she’d carefully arranged at the house untouched.

Those gardenias-she’d started growing them before she even got married. They meant something to her.

“I’ll come pick them up,” she said without hesitation.

Jarrod had already thrown out her laptop and now he was tearing down the house; even the gardenias in the backyard were being moved. Clearly, nothing would be left unchanged.

But after the laptop incident, at least this time he bothered to let her know first.

“No need,” Jarrod replied calmly, unhurried as ever.

Elodie frowned, but before she could say anything, he added, “They were dug up and sent to the old manor this afternoon. You can get them there.”

She kept her expression neutral, voice detached. “I’ll drive over now.”

He probably didn’t want her setting foot in the old house ever again.

After all, with everything being remodeled for a new life, having her show up might

just make Sylvie, the soon-to-be lady of the house, uneasy.

Jarrod’s voice was cool and even. “All right. Drive safe.”

He hung up immediately, not bothering with any extra conversation.

Elodie glanced at her screen. Keith’s number, of course.

Clearly, Jarrod was keeping his distance.

He’d changed his number and wouldn’t even call her directly anymore. Maybe he

just didn’t want to leave any connection between them.

But whatever he was thinking-it didn’t matter to her anymore.

Elodie packed up quickly, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she headed out.

It was a forty-minute drive to the old manor, but thankfully, traffic was light that night.