The next day.

Octavia stopped by the townhouse at lunchtime, as she usually did after school. Her stomach was already growling, and as soon as she walked in, she called out, "Elodie?"

Instead of Elodie, one of the housekeepers appeared, hurrying to take Octavia's bag. "Miss, Mrs. Silverstein isn't home."

That caught Octavia off guard. She frowned. "Isn't she usually done making lunch by now?"

She knew all about Elodie packing lunch for her brother.

The house was just a stone's throw from the Silverstein Group offices. Every morning, Elodie would prep ingredients before work, then rush home during her lunch break to cook and have Keith bring a meal up to Jarrod.

Even though her brother had zero interest in seeing Elodie, Elodie never stopped trying.

Today, Octavia had come over for the express purpose of eating Elodie's cooking.

Elodie might not be good at much else, but she was a quick learner in the kitchen, and her food always hit the spot for Octavia.

But today, the kitchen was cold and silent.

Octavia's mood soured.

Was Elodie getting lazier by the day?

The housekeeper looked just as confused. The always gentle and attentive Mrs. Silverstein suddenly wasn't coming home; she used to avoid business trips just so she could be here for her husband.

The truth was, Octavia had been in a foul mood all day. Yesterday, she'd heard her sister-in-law Sylvie had come down with a fever from a cold. Octavia wanted to take the afternoon off to visit her, but it felt wrong to show up empty-handed.

She'd heard sick people should eat something nourishing and gentle on the stomach, but she couldn't cook. Buying something pre-made felt insincere. That's when she'd thought of Elodie.

food was

ask Elodie to

flopped down on the couch and

ideas—she planned to optimize the system herself. She didn't want to waste time

at it and declined

Octavia called again, relentlessly.

so Elodie blocked her number and finally enjoyed a moment of

got back to

to the busy signal on the other

lip

Elodie ignoring

calls before. She was always warm

accommodating, eager to please.

no choice, Octavia called her

and curt: "What

do you know where Elodie is? She won't answer my calls. I'm at

hasn't come

considering. "I haven't talked to her. No

her

is just for show?" His tone

just... Sylvie's sick, and I

just show up empty-handed... Jarrod, what should I do to get Elodie to

was busy with something, silent for a

"Doesn't Grandma like

Then he hung up.

was puzzled for a second, then it

she used Grandma as an excuse, Elodie

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