Marrying Jarrod wasn’t a choice Elodie made freely; each step along the way had left her with no other options.

She couldn’t argue with Alexander’s words.

Alexander stood up. “I’ll go grab you some water. Wait here.”

Elodie glanced at the IV drip, nearly finished now, and considered calling a nurse to remove the needle. But the ER was in chaos-nurses bustling everywhere, no one to spare a moment. She climbed out of bed and took a few steps, but seeing no one available, she leaned against the wall to rest.

Nearby, two women were chatting idly.

“Guess who I just saw? Mr. Silverstein from The Silverstein Group! He rushed into the hospital just now!”

Elodie thought she’d misheard.

Jarrod? Here, at the hospital?

Could he actually be here for her?

The idea seemed far-fetched. He never spent more effort on her than absolutely necessary.

The women’s voices floated over again. “Mr. Silverstein brought a stunning woman with him. You should’ve seen how anxious he was about her.”

Of course.

Elodie felt neither surprise nor disappointment. They were practically strangers now what was there to expect?

One woman lowered her voice, leaning in conspiratorially. “Between us, I think they’re here for a prenatal checkup…”

Even knowing Jarrod was here for Sylvie, the mention of a prenatal appointment made Elodie’s hand drift unconsciously to her belly—the place she’d soon lose the ability to carry life.

Her legs felt heavy as lead.

A sharp, persistent ache in her chest reminded her that some wounds can’t be forgotten just because you tell yourself to let go.

“What are you doing wandering around when you’re sick?”

A man’s easygoing voice sounded behind her.

Elodie turned and, to her surprise, found Ivan standing there.

He had one hand in his pocket, watching her with a wry smile. Who knows how much of the gossip he’d overheard.

Elodie tried to wet her parched throat. “What are you doing here?”

Ivan shrugged. “Someone called me and said you fainted. They needed your ID and insurance card.”

Elodie suddenly remembered-she’d had the same phone number for years, and way back when, Ivan had grabbed her phone and set himself as her emergency contact.

He’d said, no matter what, he’d be there for her in a heartbeat.

But now…

“Sorry,” Elodie said quietly. “My friend didn’t know.”

Ivan studied her for a moment, then stepped forward, effortlessly removing her IV and pressing a cotton pad to the spot. “You fainted from a cold and a fever? Elodie, you’re still the same as when you were a kid-pulling stunts just to make me come running.”

Back then, he’d always had admirers swarming around him. Whenever Elodie got jealous or upset, she’d magically come down with some “illness” or “injury” that required his immediate attention.

She glanced down at the hand he held, then calmly pulled her wrist free and put a little distance between them. “You really didn’t have to come.”

Ivan looked at her, convinced she was still being petulant.

“Next time, just text me first, don’t call directly,” he said, leaning back against the wall. “Otherwise Queenie will get jealous.”

“It won’t happen again.”

Elodie didn’t argue; pointless explanations were better replaced by real change.

Ivan watched her. She was far too calm-once upon a time, she would never have tolerated him siding with another woman.

He couldn’t figure her out now. Was she playing hard to get, or had she moved on?

He thought for a moment. Women, when they sulked, always needed a little sweetness in return.

He stepped closer, reached out, and ruffled her hair, leaning down to meet her eyes. “Are you done?”

Elodie met his lazy, teasing gaze and tried to brush his hand away.

But as she looked up, she spotted Jarrod and Sylvie standing not far off.

Jarrod watched her and Ivan with cool detachment, as if he were just another stranger passing by.