As soon as Elodie left, Maurice noticed immediately. “Why did she just leave like that?” 

Jarrod glanced in her direction, spotting the untouched plate of food. 

“Wow, some people really don’t know how to appreciate kindness,” Maurice said, shaking his head with a bored sigh. “She acts like she’s doing us a favor just by being here.” 

Sylvie, however, kept quiet. 

Of course she understood what was going on in Elodie’s mind. 

It was just pride–feeling slighted, thinking Jarrod was playing favorites. She was upset, and her wounded ego wouldn’t let her stay any longer. 

Sylvie glanced at Jarrod. 

He’d already turned away, clearly not giving it a second thought. 

She curled her lips into a faint smile. “When we’re done eating, will you come for a walk with me?” 

Jarrod nodded. “Sure.” 

It was Elodie’s first time in Fairview Crossing, though her mother had gone to college here. On a whim, she decided to visit her mom’s old campus. 

She’d made a reservation ahead of time, so once she got through the gates, she wandered for a while. 

Fairview University was one of the country’s top art schools; her mother had studied oil painting here. Back in her day, she’d been the top student on the national entrance exam, and one of her paintings still hung in the university’s gallery. 

Elodie found the painting and stood before it for a long time. 

Her mother used to say there were meant to be two companion pieces. Fairview University displayed one, but the other had gone missing years ago and was never found. 

Her grandmother once told her that, even near the end, her mother was still thinking about that lost painting. 

Elodie thought, maybe if she could find it, her mother’s spirit would be at peace. 

She stared at her mother’s work, lingering on the signature at the bottom–Winifred Thorne. 

Her heart felt hollow, and all the longing she’d been bottling up came crashing down at once. 

All the grievances she’d swallowed lately rose up too, making her nose sting and her eyes blur with tears. 

But her mother was gone. 

There was no one left to confide in now. 

She brushed the corners of her eyes with her fingertips, then slowly turned to leave. 

Winters in Fairview Crossing were damp and rainy. The sky was already heavy with clouds, and she guessed it’d start raining soon, so she quickened her pace toward the exit, calling for a ride as she walked. 

The moment she reached the gate, rain began to fall in thin, misty sheets. 

A few cold drops hit her face. She hurried, lifting her bag over her head as she ran for cover. 

She’d just ducked out of the rain when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jarrod and Sylvie strolling toward her under an umbrella. Jarrod was holding it slightly tilted to keep Sylvie safe and dry. 

They saw her too. 

Chapter 79 

Jarrod’s gaze met hers, and his brow seemed to furrow just a touch. 

Maybe he thought she was ruining his mood by bumping into them on their date. 

Sylvie’s mother had also graduated from Fairview, so of course she’d want to show Jarrod around her mother’s old campus. 

Elodie’s ride arrived. 

She pulled her gaze away, calm and composed, and ducked into the car, shielding herself from the rain. 

Back at the hotel, she started coughing. 

Her health had never been robust; the slightest chill was enough to make her sick. 

She took her targeted medication first, then curled up under the covers for a nap. 

She had no idea how long she slept. When she woke, sweaty and groggy, she fumbled for her phone. She didn’t know when Alexander would be back, but wanted to ask him to bring her some cough medicine. 

She dialed his number. 

It rang for ages before someone picked up. She frowned. “Are you back? Could you grab me some medicine? I’ve got a bit of a cough, maybe bronchitis. You-” 

“It’s me.” 

The cold, even voice snapped her wide awake. 

She glanced at the screen. 

…She’d called the wrong number. 

“Sorry.” She blurted it out, about to hang up. 

“What 

bir kedelis voice was quiet, emotionless. 

Elodie hesitated. “1603.” 

“Okay.” 

He hung up before she could say anything else, his tone revealing nothing. 

Elodie sat there for a long moment, dazed. 

Was he really going to bring her medicine? 

But after thinking it over, it made sense. Jarrod was always distant with her, but if she asked him directly for something reasonable, he’d usually help out of basic courtesy, nothing more. 

In the Presidential Suite’s game room, Jarrod had taken the call. Sylvie, Maurice, and the others were all still 

there. 

Chapter 80