Chapter 6
Elodie met Ivan’s gaze He watched her with a hint of a smile, as if he were an outsider simply waiting to see her squi
She tightened her grip around her fingers, feeling the last shred of hope slip away.
Elodie didn’t look away. She met his eyes, giving him exactly what he wanted. “Hello, Queenie,” she said, her voice steady.
Queenie’s smile widened as she wrapped her arms around wan’s waist, leaning Into him with a show of affection.
Ivan paused, glanced at Elodie for a fleeting moment, then lowered his head and led Queenie into the sitting room
“What’s with the act?” Reba strode over, her voice sharp with scorn. “My brother isn’t interested in a married woman.
“And as for that Ms. Fielding–the one Mr. Silverstein invited for his birthday yesterday–she’s a hotshot PhD in aerospace engineering Someone the entire business world is fighting over How could a housewife whose only talents are cooking and warming a bed over compete?
“Or maybe you’re just afraid you’ll be kicked out so now you want to cozy up to the Harcourts?:||
This miserable marriage–everyone was just waiting to watch her fall!
Elodie’s chest twisted with pain. She set the gift she’d brought down on the table. “Don’t worry. However my life turns out, it’s got nothing to do with the Harcourt family. After all my name is Thome
Without another word she left, not bothering to look back !
Staying any longer would only make things worse for everyone
“She’s gone!”
Malcom emerged from
side room just in
in time to see Fladie’s resolute figure disappearing through the front door His expression darkened
Reba snapped out of her daze and grumbled, “Dad, did you see that attitude? She doesn’t care about the Harcourts, or you. If you ask me. Mr. Silverstein is gorg to divorce her sooner or later
After three years. Malcom could see it clearly: Elodie had never won Jamad’s heart. The only bencht he’d ever gotten from the marriage was at the very start when he’d leveraged the Silverstein name for a business deal. Since then, the Harcourt family had tried to rely on the Silversteins for other projects, but Jarrod never showed the slightest concem for his father–in–law.
And won’t it all Elodie’s fault for being so useless? She couldn’t even win over her own husband. Pathetic
His face hardened. He glanced at Reba. “You’re not getting any younger either. Elodie’s a lost cause. If I get a chance, III help you get some face time with M
Raba instantly understood what he meant
Her face stiffened. She unconsciously glanced over at Ivan, who was still lounging on the sofa, feeding grapes to Queenie with a wicked grin
Reba bit her lip, a flash of resentment flickering in her eyes.
Elodie rented a small, two–bedroom apartment–tastefully fumished, move–in ready. She signed a yearlong lease; the place was only about a mile from the hospital where she often worked
It would be easy to get there if she needed anything
Her head was pounding after leaving the Harcourt house, but Elodie didn’t forget to block Jamod on her messaging app
She kept his number, just in case she needed to take his call about signing the divorce papers at city hall!
All she had to do now was make it through the thirty–day cooling–off period
Setting her phone aside, she look a long showet, then collapsed into bed and fell asleep 2
Meanwhile
Jamod returned to the villa. The foyer was dark; not a single light left on
No matter how late he came home before, Elodie always left a lamp burning for him, greeting him at the door, gently taking his coat and bringing him clean clothes
He rarely came home. In fact, it was only on certain days each month–out of obligation, really–that he showed up at all
Tonight, as he reached for his coat and found no one waiting, he looked around frowning slightly!
Throwing a tantrum?
protest. But the bed
He headed upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door, expecting to find her curled up pretending to sleep ready to stage some silent protes was emply
The whole place was quiet and dark
Elodie hadn’t come home
Kith had already reported to him about Elodie’s attitude toward Sylvie–how she’d even threatened to see him in court.
And now
Jarrod loosened his be a faint, mocking smile on his lips
So she’d learned how to storm out?
He wasnt worried
Maybe some time on her own was exactly what she needed
