She never finished her sentence.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded at the doorway.

A low, cool male voice cut through the room. “I’m not late, am I? Darling?”

Elodie’s words were snatched from her lips.

She whipped around, stunned, half-convinced she must have misheard.

Everyone else in the room looked over, just as surprised.

Jarrod strode in, calm and assured.

Seeing him, Ivan’s brows knit in surprise. He hadn’t expected Jarrod to give Elodie such respect-calling her “darling” in front of everyone.

But then again, Ivan realized, today it was just the Thornes-no outsiders, no need to keep up appearances. Jarrod could afford the pretense of

acknowledgment. If even one unknowing guest were present, Elodie would never hear such a word from him.

Tall and impeccably dressed in a black suit, Jarrod crossed the room. He glanced at Elodie, then nodded politely to Rosemary. “Business kept me for a while,” he said, voice even. “My apologies, Grandma.”

Elodie’s expression cooled.

That single, casual “darling” had almost cracked her composure. The shock she felt at the word far outweighed her surprise at Jarrod’s actual presence.

What game was he playing? Willing to go this far for a performance?

All these years of marriage, he’d never once called her “darling.”

Besides, she’d already accepted that Jarrod was with Selma and Sylvie today. Why had he shown up now?

Almost absently, she glanced at his tie. It was plain black, not the red-patterned one Sylvie had given him—appropriate for a memorial.

Nothing about this made sense. Her frown deepened.

Jarrod’s gaze rested on her, his tone casual. “What’s the matter?”

Only then did Elodie realize the look she’d been giving him. With Rosemary and the others still watching, she forced herself to change the subject. “Where did you come from?”

“Work.”

Elodie didn’t buy it, but she let it drop. It wasn’t her place to dig deeper, not anymore.

Rosemary’s expression softened. As the family matriarch, she chose not to press further. She simply waved a hand. “You’re here, that’s what matters. Let’s begin- the memorial.”

Jarrod nodded, following the ritual with practiced ease.

Esmeralda, still reeling from the word “darling,” nudged Alexander, bewildered. “What’s going on? Aren’t they already divorced? He hasn’t even changed how he addresses her?”

Alexander lowered his voice. “Maybe Elodie negotiated something with him. Either way, since he’s here, I take back what I said earlier—he’s not a complete jerk.”

If Jarrod really hadn’t shown, Alexander would have told Elodie to get a rabies shot in memory of all the years she’d been bitten.

Still, none of this made sense. By rights, Jarrod should have been spending today as Sylvie’s main guest.

Or maybe the fireworks show-the real highlight-wasn’t until tonight. That would leave him free to come here now.

Alexander wasn’t the only one with that thought-Elodie wondered the same. The third anniversary memorial would wrap up before noon; she figured Jarrod would leave as soon as the ritual was over. That way, he could maintain appearances and still have time for Sylvie. Two birds, one stone.

Ivan remained motionless, playing dumb, but a faint smile touched his lips as he greeted Jarrod. “I thought Mr. Silverstein might be too busy today to make it.”

So Jarrod had really shown up-

Ivan was genuinely surprised. He’d texted Jarrod barely ten minutes ago. That meant Jarrod had already been on his way.

Jarrod met his gaze, utterly composed. “It’s fine. Family comes first.”

Family? Ivan rolled the word around in his mind, almost impressed by Jarrod’s ability to put on a show. For a man so reluctant, he wore the mask well.

Rosemary’s mood visibly improved. She gestured for Elodie and Jarrod. “Elodie, Jarrod come light a candle for your mother.”

Elodie hesitated, glancing at the man beside her. She wasn’t sure if Jarrod would be willing to keep up the act all the way through the ritual.

Jarrod caught her look, but said nothing. He simply took up a candle, bowed his head, and went through each step with quiet care-no trace of impatience.

Elodie’s mind drifted for a moment before she hurried to follow his lead.

As she lit the candle for her mother, her eyes stung with grief. But she wasn’t one

to show weakness. She bent over the memorial table for a long time, hiding her tears from everyone.

Until

A tissue appeared in her line of sight.

She looked up to meet Jarrod’s cool, steady gaze. He held the tissue out, his eyes fathomless. “Here. Wipe your eyes.”