Elodie’s expression didn’t waver. “Understood. You can go now.”

Jarrod finally leaned back in his chair, still maintaining his air of effortless elegance.

But he didn’t move.

Elodie frowned, glancing at him again. “Is there something else you want to discuss?”

The unspoken question hung between them-Why are you still here?

Jarrod cast her a sidelong glance, then checked his watch. “Since we’re already here, there’s no point in only going halfway through the motions.”

Elodie gave a wry little smile. “You’re worried I’ll change my mind about what I just agreed to, aren’t you?”

Afraid she’d only agreed to placate him, and would back out later?

Jarrod met her gaze, his lips barely moving, his tone light. “Yes. I don’t trust you’ll follow through.”

Elodie was past caring whether he trusted her or not.

She’d long gotten used to Jarrod’s nature he rarely changed his mind once it was made up.

She simply looked away, not giving him another glance.

Jarrod, for his part, didn’t seem to care about her mood or her reaction. He didn’t

find the quiet-now edging into awkward at all uncomfortable.

Their business was finished, and neither made any effort to continue the conversation.

They might as well have been two strangers sharing the same waiting room.

Just like old times.

When Elias came downstairs, he caught sight of the two of them from a distance.

He paused on the steps, slowing to a halt.

He watched Jarrod and Elodie sitting together.

A flicker of weariness passed through his eyes.

He knew Jarrod, of course. The famous Mr. Silverstein of The Silverstein Group. The Silversteins and the Warwick family had known each other for generations.

He wasn’t exactly close to Jarrod, but still…

What was Jarrod doing here?

There was only one major surgery scheduled today-Emile’s transplant.

So…was Jarrod here waiting with Elodie for Emile?

Surprise flickered across Elias’s face.

Were Jarrod and Elodie close?

Lost in thought, Elias didn’t approach them.

Elodie grew restless after sitting so long, occasionally glancing over to see Jarrod quietly answering messages on his phone. His face was as expressionless as ever, but the soft tapping of his fingers on the screen broke the uneasy silence, keeping her from getting completely lost in anxious thoughts.

Every so often, the sound would pull her back to the present. Thankfully, the surgery ended earlier than expected.

When Dr. Latham emerged, looking a little tired, Elodie rushed to him. “How did it go?”

Latham smiled reassuringly. “The surgery went very well, Ms. Thorne. She just needs to wake up from the anesthesia now. It shouldn’t be more than twenty-four hours.”

Elodie felt all the tension drain from her body, slumping against the wall for support. “Thank you so much.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Before leaving, Latham glanced at Jarrod, a faint look of recognition crossing his face, as if trying to place him.

He hesitated, then stopped to look at Jarrod again. “Excuse me, sir, have we met before?”

Jarrod finally looked up at him, meeting his gaze with those deep, calm eyes. “I’ve been to this hospital a few times.”

That seemed to clear things up for Latham-it must have been a chance encounter in the corridors.

He nodded and moved on without another word.

Elodie didn’t spare Jarrod another glance-nurses soon wheeled Emile out and

hurried her off to the intensive care unit for observation.

Jarrod watched her go, then stood with one hand in his pocket for a moment, silent.

Without a word, he turned and left.

He hadn’t planned on lingering any longer.

When Elodie finally finished settling everything, she didn’t know when Jarrod had slipped out he hadn’t said goodbye, just disappeared as quietly as he’d come, true to form.

Later, Elias stopped by after finishing his rounds.

When he got there, Jarrod was already gone.

He checked on Emile, making sure everything was stable, then turned to Elodie. “She’ll be fine now. As long as there’s no rejection, she’ll be as healthy as anyone else.”

Only then did Elodie truly feel the weight lift off her chest.

“Thank you.” She’d lost count of how many times she’d said those words today.

Elias pulled off his mask. His eyes gave nothing away, and then he asked, a bit abruptly, “Mr. Silverstein already left?”