Elodie cast a cool, indifferent glance at Maurice.

Joseph glanced at Elodie, then said, "This really isn't something Ms. Thorne needs to handle."

This was work for the staff, not her.

Alexander and Elodie immediately understood what Maurice was getting at.

Just moments ago, Maurice had been singing Sylvie's praises, calling her a rising star, full of promise-and now, he was assigning Elodie these petty, menial tasks. The message couldn't have been clearer.

She and Sylvie were worlds apart.

Elodie knew all too well: ever since that scandal-climbing into Jarrod's bed, blackmailing a journalist, forcing a marriage-everyone here had looked at her with barely concealed disgust. To them, she was only fit to atone for her supposed sins.

Maurice tapped his forehead, feigning innocence. "No offense. I just thought, since Ms. Thorne was a homemaker for three years, she'd probably be more skilled than the rest of us."

Elodie couldn't help but glance at Jarrod.

Did he really not notice the way those around him belittled her?

But then, Jarrod had never cared about her feelings.

Just like now-he remained detached, as if none of this concerned him.

Because, in truth, he'd never really thought of her as his wife.

"If you're having trouble with your

Maurice's smile froze.

out in the open. She was nothing like

the flicker of embarrassment on Maurice's face, Elodie turned away- only

a split second, a trace of a smile-wry, almost amused -flitted across his

quickly as

Elodie was momentarily stunned.

Jarrod... just smiled

these years—they could probably count on one hand the number of times he'd truly

been able to read

was the first to break the awkward silence. He shot Maurice a look and said, "Mr. Nilsson, is there something you'd

to attention, suddenly feeling

wasn't going to just

he had no intention of letting Alexander do such chores.

everyone that Alexander was

than siding-was he

frowned. Was Alexander interested in

toward Alexander, as if trying to figure him out. If this was just

the attention, Alexander raised his glass and nodded coolly

oblivious to the undercurrents. She handed a skewer of mushrooms to Freya, who'd been

was always observant-she noticed the little things, like what people

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