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?

to visit her uncle and grandmother. He'd barely ever agreed.

What a cruel joke.

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

knew, deep down, that even if she refused, Jarrod had a thousand ways to get his

She couldn't risk it.

she'd never

studied her for a

his hands into his pockets. "Fine. The

at him, stunned

"Was the situation with

Finally, she understood.

now the gallery was just another pawn in his game. He'd watched her panic, watched

the reason his precious

it was clear where his loyalties

eyes. "No. It was a personal matter between

true. He just wanted to make her squirm, to defend Sylvie's wounded pride

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

surprised by

up of top university graduates,"

Sylvie was, she

Jarrod understood her meaning.

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