None of this had been expected.

By the time anyone realized what was happening, it was already too late.

Sylvie shot up from her seat, her expression a tangled mess of shock and confusion as she stared at the now-empty doorway where the figure had vanished.

It wasn’t just her.

Everyone seated around the large dining table sat in stunned silence for several seconds, their minds completely blank. The only sound was a waiter, pale as a sheet and wringing his hands in panic, stammering over and over, “I’m so sorry, so sorry… I didn’t see… I didn’t notice…”

That’s when Naylor finally pieced it together.

Something was wrong with Elodie.

But none of them had actually seen what happened to her. It all happened so fast.

By the time he realized, Elodie was doubled over in pain, her whole body crumpling.

But what really mattered…

The person who’d just swept Elodie into his arms and rushed her out the door-

Was Jarrod.

While everyone else sat in shocked paralysis, Jarrod had already carried her out and was speeding her to the hospital.

Only then did Alexander snap to his senses. All he’d seen was Elodie suddenly about to collapse he hadn’t caught what caused it.

His face darkened, worry etched deep, but he still managed to turn to Klein, voice apologetic but urgent. “I’m sorry, Elodie’s not feeling well. If you don’t mind, could we reschedule?”

Even Klein looked genuinely concerned. “Of course, go-see to Elodie.”

No one would have guessed that, in a crisis, Jarrod would be the first to react. Alexander gave a quick nod, then hurried out.

Naylor also rose from his chair, his expression now grave. He glanced at Sylvie, who looked utterly unreadable. “Ms. Fielding, shall we go check on her?”

After all, Jarrod was Sylvie’s boyfriend.

It made sense for Sylvie to be there.

Sylvie pressed her lips together, her face betraying nothing. Calmly, she nodded, not the least bit flustered by the sudden chaos. With perfect composure, she turned to Klein, offered a polite farewell, and then headed out alongside Naylor.

By the time Jarrod carried Elodie to the car, the pain had at least brought her mind back to sharp focus.

When they arrived at the nearest hospital, Jarrod got out first, opened the door, and reached for her.

Elodie, face deathly pale, mustered her strength and slapped his hand away with a sharp crack. “I can walk myself.”

Jarrod’s face was stone-cold. He stared at her, eyes dark and unreadable, revealing nothing.

Clutching her throbbing abdomen, Elodie tried to get out of the car. The moment her feet hit the ground, her knees nearly buckled.

Without a word, Jarrod ignored her protest, bent down, and scooped her up again, completely unfazed by the way she glared at him or how her fists pounded weakly against his shoulder.

He didn’t even seem to notice the blows.

Elodie was in too much pain to put up much of a fight-her efforts grew feeble, her face even paler.

Jarrod carried her straight into the ER.

A nurse hurried over. “Bring the patient over here, please.”

Jaw set, Jarrod gently laid Elodie down on a bed.

The ER doctor arrived within moments. As he sanitized his hands, he glanced at Jarrod. “Are you family?”

Jarrod’s expression remained icy he didn’t answer the question. Instead, his voice was steady and cool: “She’s got severe abdominal pain. She hit the edge of

a table. Is it possible she’s ruptured an ovarian cyst?”

The doctor’s face grew serious. “It’s possible. We need to check.”

He leaned down to palpate Elodie’s abdomen.

Cold sweat broke out on Elodie’s forehead, but she gritted her teeth and, face turned away, spoke to Jarrod in a low, tight voice. “You’ve done enough. I don’t need you to stay here. I’ll have Alex come…”

She didn’t want Jarrod to see her like this-weak, helpless, a mess.

Especially now, when things between them were already in shambles.

Her pride wouldn’t allow her to show a shred of vulnerability.

And the last thing she wanted was to be tangled up with her ex-husband for no

reason.

This time, Jarrod looked right at her. “Elodie, stubbornness for its own sake is just foolishness.”