Sylvie finally paused, a reluctant sigh escaping her lips. “It was because of me. Jarrod got hurt trying to help.”

Ivan looked at her in surprise. “A real knight in shining armor, huh?”

Sylvie only smiled faintly, saying nothing more.

Jarrod lifted his glass toward Ivan in a casual salute. “I haven’t had the chance yet -congratulations, Mr. Harcourt, on your engagement.”

Ivan’s smile was wry but genuine. “Thank you, Mr. Silverstein. I’d say you’re not doing too badly yourself.”

He shot a pointed look at Sylvie, eyebrow arched in teasing challenge.

Jarrod just gave a lopsided, indifferent smile and let the comment slide.

As he glanced up, something across the room caught his eye. The music was winding down, and Elodie was just finishing a dance in the center of the ballroom.

Her partner, every bit the gentleman, walked her back to her seat with a courtly bow.

It had been years since Elodie had danced like this, and with her health still not back to normal, she was more tired than she cared to admit.

Watts hesitated, then introduced himself with a polite earnestness. “I’m Watts. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Elodie sized up the young man-he couldn’t have been much older than twenty- two or twenty-three.

She nodded, composed. “Hello. I’m Elodie.”

Watts, sensing that lingering would be awkward, simply offered a courteous greeting to Alexander and Esmeralda, then made his exit, every inch the polite young man.

No sooner had he left than Esmeralda leaned in, eyes sparkling. “Ten out of ten. Honestly.”

Alexander arched an eyebrow, chuckling. “The guy’s got potential. Good build, good looks… Isn’t that what they call a golden retriever boyfriend these days?”

He added, “Young, fresh, handsome.”

Esmeralda grinned. “Definitely worth a try!”

Elodie just stared at them silently.

Watts looked barely past twenty-probably a year or two younger than her, and the way he’d personally escorted her back… well, that was more than just good

manners.

Elodie brushed it off as a joke, about to respond, when she felt someone watching her. She paused, glancing sideways.

Jarrod was looking her way, his expression unreadable, gaze lingering meaningfully.

He’d clearly noticed Watts walking her back just now.

When their eyes met, Jarrod’s lips curled in a subtle, ambiguous smile before he

leaned closer to Sylvie, resuming their private conversation.

Elodie frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

Whatever. Not her problem.

She took a sip of water, then glanced at her two friends, who were still snickering. “Aren’t you two going to dance?”

She had no intention of playing along with their teasing.

The question snapped them back to the party atmosphere. After all, tonight’s

engagement party felt more like a casual celebration-everyone was here to have

fun.

It wasn’t long before Alexander, always a favorite, was approached by several women looking for a dance. He shrugged and headed off to join the revelry.

On the other side of the room, Watts made his way to the bar. Just as he picked up a glass, Naylor approached-clearly someone he knew. “When did you get back in town?”

Watts raised an eyebrow, keeping it vague. “A few days ago.”

Naylor, knowing Watts’s family background, figured he was probably here on behalf of his parents after all, this was the Jett family’s heiress’s engagement party.

But what really caught his attention was seeing Watts with Elodie earlier.

He frowned. “You know the woman you just danced with?”

Watts was nonchalant. “Not really. We just met.”

“You’re not… interested in her, are you?” Naylor looked incredulous, barely stifling a laugh.

Watts ran a finger around the rim of his glass, a slow, sly smile spreading across his face. “Interested? Not quite.”

Because-

He’d fallen for Elodie at first sight.