When Elodie arrived, she found Jarrod standing beneath the covered walkway of the nursing home, cigarette in hand. He looked tall and composed, an imposing figure with a chill about him that kept people at a distance.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, and her expression was anything but calm.

Jarrod, always calculating, never wasted words. He was threatening her with her uncle to force her hand—nothing more, nothing less.

She walked up to him. "Can we talk?"

Jarrod turned slowly, regarding her with a cool gaze. "Why are you so nervous?"

The question hit her like a slap.

Elodie knew times had changed; she couldn't afford to be defiant anymore. She softened her voice. "My mother dedicated her whole life to art. She and Selma always had their differences. No matter what, the gallery can't be sold. Can't you just let this go...?"

She was out of breath, probably from running.

Her words came out in shaky bursts.

Jarrod just looked at her, unmoved. "Her mother loved that place."

His tone made it clear-he wasn't going to give in.

He was willing to let the Thorne family be insulted, all to please Sylvie's mother?

remembered all the times she'd pleaded for him to visit her uncle and grandmother. He'd barely ever agreed. Now, he'd come here of his own

What a cruel joke.

a bitter laugh and kept her voice steady. "Jarrod, I know you always get what you want, but not this time. My grandmother can't stand Sylvie's mother. If she finds out Selma is the buyer, it will devastate her. Please...

even if she refused, Jarrod had a

She couldn't risk it.

she'd never done in

her for a long moment,

into his

him, stunned

the situation with Mr. Patrick

Finally, she understood.

at all. The fallout with Mr. Patrick had affected her grandmother, and now the gallery was just another

was the reason

was clear where his loyalties

"No. It was a personal matter between me and her. There's no way I could influence Mr. Patrick

true. He just wanted to make her squirm, to defend

enough." He scrutinized the redness in her eyes. "Tell me besides Alexander, does VistaLink Technologies

frowned, surprised

of top university graduates," she replied

matter how brilliant Sylvie was, she wasn't the only talent in the

Jarrod understood her meaning.

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