At the same time, Elodie noticed Sylvie’s gaze drifting in her direction. Clearly, Sylvie had overheard what Reba said. With a subtle arch of her brow, Sylvie offered a faint, inscrutable smile before turning to Jarrod and Maurice beside her. “I’ll head inside first.”

Her effortless poise made Elodie feel all the more flustered and exposed by contrast.

Elodie could guess exactly what Sylvie was thinking. But honestly, it didn’t matter anymore. She was done with Jarrod, anyway. Internal strife solved nothing.

Malcom, too, was visibly unsettled. Elodie’s relentless outburst had surely left a sour impression on Mr. Silverstein-how was he supposed to continue the conversation now?

With a heavy sigh, Malcom shook his head, as if wounded by Elodie’s behavior. He turned to Jarrod and forced a smile. “Mr. Silverstein, let’s reschedule. Next time, you must come over for dinner.”

Jarrod said nothing, his expression somber and withdrawn.

Malcom’s annoyance with Elodie only deepened. Her tantrum had clearly soured Jarrod’s mood! Shooting her a disappointed look, Malcom turned and strode away.

Reba, however, seemed to relish Elodie’s discomfort. In her eyes, Sylvie really did have the upper hand-stunning, capable, and the moment she appeared, she’d captured all of Jarrod’s attention. How could Elodie hope to compete?

With a mocking snort, Reba turned to leave.

Elodie met her gaze coolly. “Did we resolve things, or not?”

Reba’s patience snapped, her brows furrowing. “Are you ever going to let this go?”

Elodie struggled to keep her emotions in check, her voice icy. “So, you’d rather I called the police?”

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Reba’s face.

Suddenly, a warm hand closed around Elodie’s wrist. Ivan had appeared from nowhere, his expression unreadable, somewhere between amusement and warning. “That’s enough, Elodie.”

Ivan’s intervention made Elodie feel even more suffocated, as if the last taut string inside her might snap.

She tried to pull free. “Let go of me!”

Ivan met her gaze, holding firm. “Reba’s my sister too. Can you just let this go?”

It was almost laughable. The man who once claimed both his sister and the woman he loved belonged solely to Elodie-now he was saying this? He knew full well she’d done nothing wrong.

He’d simply changed sides.

By now, a few restaurant staff were craning their necks to watch the commotion, eager for a bit of drama.

Maurice, ever the spectator, clicked his tongue as he walked inside. “Ms. Harcourt knew when to walk away after rejection; it’s a shame some people don’t know when to quit.”

Ivan shot Maurice a frosty glare, then turned to the indifferent Jarrod. Still holding Elodie by the wrist, Ivan forced a polite smile. “Sorry, Mr. Silverstein. Elodie just has a bit of a temper. Hope you don’t mind.”

Jarrod appeared completely unfazed by the whole scene. He merely glanced their way, deep in thought. Elodie, meanwhile, was subdued-she and Ivan had grown up together, and old habits made her instinctively obey when he insisted.

After a brief nod, Jarrod walked into the private dining room without a backward glance, completely unconcerned about how things played out between Elodie and Ivan.

Not once did he speak up for Elodie. No one would have guessed he was her husband.

“Come with me.” Ivan’s gaze swept across the onlookers, his frown deepening as he pulled Elodie toward the exit.

Reba watched Ivan’s tall, retreating figure, biting her lip as she moved to follow- only to be blocked by Esmeralda.

To reach the door, Elodie and Ivan had to pass by Jarrod’s private room. As they walked by, Sylvie’s gentle voice drifted out: “My mom is coming back soon. She’s booked a restaurant and would like to meet you properly, Jarrod. Do you have time?”

“Just say when,” Jarrod replied without hesitation. “I’ll be there.”

Elodie paused mid-step, lowering her gaze as Ivan led her away.

She’d once asked Jarrod to spare a little time to meet her grandmother and uncle,

but he’d refused-no effort, not even a token gesture. He hadn’t even bothered to pretend.

But now, for Sylvie’s mother, he agreed without a second thought.

A formal meeting with her family…

So Jarrod was already preparing to divorce her and marry Sylvie in her place?