"All right, take care on your way."

Elodie didn't bother to explain why she wasn't leaving with Jarrod.

She knew exactly where he was headed-straight to Sylvie.

There was no way he'd waste his precious time with Sylvie just to give her a ride home.

The next two days passed in silence.

Nothing from Sylvie, and Jarrod didn't reach out to Elodie, either.

She wasn't sure if this meant things were over, but with everything else demanding her attention, she found it impossible to feel at ease.

On Friday morning, Jarrod finally called. His tone was neutral, almost cold. "Octavia's had an allergic reaction again. She refuses to let the staff help and insists you were the only one who didn't make it hurt last time. Could you come take a look at her?"

Elodie pressed her lips together. "...Sure."

Octavia wasn't her responsibility. She could have said no.

But since Jarrod was asking, and this could be seen as a favor, she figured he'd have no reason to hold the gallery situation over her head anymore.

"That painting-"

"Jarrod, what do you think of this dress?" Sylvie's gentle voice floated through from his end of the line.

It was barely past nine in the morning the busiest time of day—and he was out shopping with Sylvie?

The call disconnected abruptly.

used to being an

day off and headed out to the

provocation. Her skin would break

who tried to

past three years, she'd tended to Octavia

had come to

to Jarrod she would never set foot here again, and yet,

think she was

housekeeper met her at the door, offering her

grandmother came over to warm Elodie's hands. "She's upstairs, making

quiet, heading straight

you crawling here on all fours? What took

walked over. "Lift

by Elodie's indifference. "Do you have to be

took.

and Octavia seemed to think Elodie should be available on demand, as if her own life and

eat walnuts?"

by how quickly

deny that Elodie was a good person-few women were as meticulous or reliable. For three years, Elodie had looked after her with unwavering care, always mindful of her allergies, never missing a

still didn't

candidates for her brother's wife, and she wasn't

would stop competing for the title of

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