He handed Elodie the new agreement.

Elodie knew the procedures here were notoriously complicated, and every step was checked thoroughly.

She didn’t say much about it.

Lowering her gaze, she scanned the updated divorce agreement.

The division of assets was much the same as before, but this time he’d added something: a transfer of twenty percent equity in Nexus Analytics.

Equity, not just shares. That meant she’d be granted actual managerial rights in Nexus Analytics.

Elodie read the details carefully and found that in the separate equity transfer contract, Jarrod had listed her grandmother, Rosemary, as the nominee holder.

She herself would remain the true controlling party behind the scenes.

Only then did Elodie look up and meet Jarrod’s eyes across the table. “So you mean my ownership in Nexus Analytics will be kept hidden, and on paper, my grandmother will be the shareholder?”

Jarrod looked up, his voice steady and detached. “Is there a problem?”

“You want to hide that I’m your wife, right?” Elodie guessed at once.

After all, with such a large block of shares, the company was bound to investigate the shareholder’s identity.

Jarrod had chosen her grandmother as the figurehead. Internally, who at the company would know who Rosemary even was?

Let’s be honest.

This was all for Sylvie’s sake, sparing her unnecessary suspicion and gossip.

Jarrod’s eyes were cool and distant, his tone even flatter. “If there’s no problem, just sign.”

Elodie studied him. “If you’re so worried about Nexus Analytics’s executives finding out I’m a shareholder, why bother transferring me the equity at all?”

Wasn’t this a bit much?

And it honestly surprised her that Jarrod of all people would suddenly have a burst of generosity and give her even more equity.

“I won’t do anything to hurt you,” Jarrod replied, tone calm, offering no further explanation.

Elodie certainly wasn’t about to complain about more money-especially when it came to Nexus Analytics. The company was rock-solid and had excellent prospects.

Truthfully, she stood to gain a lot.

Still, Jarrod’s motives were a mystery she couldn’t quite unravel.

She turned back to the agreement, reading the other clauses.

The two conditions Jarrod had insisted on previously were present as well: last time, he’d required her to keep the divorce a secret from his grandmother for a year, to not reveal their marital status or the exact timing of the divorce to anyone. Now, he’d added something new-

For a full year, she was not allowed to be engaged or remarry.

If she broke any of these provisions, she’d owe him reasonable compensation.

Elodie’s eyes paused on that new line “No engagement or remarriage within one year”-and she looked up. “Why?”

Jarrod sat upright, his expression composed and distant. “It’s simply a precaution, to make it easier to keep the divorce secret from my grandmother for a year.”

That made sense.

She wasn’t bothered by the clause, and went straight to the point: “So I’m free to date, then?”

rod’s eyes flickered, deep and unreadable. After a moment, he replied quietly, “Interpret it however you want.”

Elodie made a small sound of acknowledgment.

She kept reading.

This time, the agreement spelled out the “reasonable compensation” that had been vague before.

If she breached the contract unilaterally, all compensation would be void.

Moreover, if she owned any stake in any company, she’d have to transfer half of it to Jarrod, free of charge.

And she’d have to accept any request from Jarrod for mental damages.

As for what exactly that would entail, the agreement didn’t specify.

Elodie frowned.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She was certain Jarrod couldn’t possibly know about her equity in VistaLink Technologies.

Jarrod didn’t answer. He simply pulled a pen from his pocket-left-handed, since his right hand and palm were both injured and began signing all three copies of the divorce agreement.

He wasn’t used to writing with his left, but he didn’t show any impatience.

When he’d finished, he handed the pen to her.

“Sign it, and the divorce certificate will be ready immediately.”

Elodie stared at the new agreement.

She was confident she’d never let the public know about her relationship with Jarrod.

So even if he’d written those compensation clauses, they didn’t really affect her.

Jarrod would never get his hands on her VistaLink Technologies shares. After giving it some thought, Elodie knew she didn’t have the luxury of dragging things out with Jarrod.

She needed that divorce certificate-fast.

After a few seconds, she took his pen and signed her name.

When it came time to sign for the Nexus Analytics equity, the pen ran out of ink. Albin quickly handed Elodie his own pen so she could finish signing the contract. That done, Jarrod stood, cool and composed. “Let’s go.”

As Elodie rose, a wave of dizziness washed over her. She dug her nails into her palm and followed Jarrod toward the marriage registry.

The clerk reviewed their documents.

Making sure every signature was in place, and all the paperwork in order.

She handed them two copies of the final divorce agreement. “Please sign here. Once you’re done, scan your fingerprints at the system over there to confirm.”

Elodie stared at this final step, her chest tightening. Without glancing at Jarrod, she did as instructed.

When the clerk finished printing the divorce certificates and was about to stamp them, she paused-

Looking up, she said pointedly, “Just to confirm: you’re both divorcing of your own free will, correct?”