Jarrod’s eyes drifted from his computer screen to Maurice.

Sylvie frowned, confusion creasing her brow. “Maurice, what are you talking about?”

She clearly thought she’d misheard him.

Maurice glanced at his phone, wondering if fatigue was making him see things. He held it out for Jarrod and Sylvie to read. “VistaLink Technologies just released a new statement. There’s not a single word about the allegations of flight control system plagiarism—just that Elodie was the sole developer, not part of the VistaLink Technologies team.”

Sylvie lowered her gaze to the phone and scanned the statement.

Her expression darkened, tinged with disbelief.

It was almost laughable.

“Just now, you gave Mr. Sterling some advice and he brushed it off, but the second he turns around, he throws Elodie under the bus? This is so blatant— they’ve found themselves a scapegoat.” Maurice shook his head, incredulous.

At a time like this, anyone put in the spotlight was clearly being set up to take the fall.

Sylvie forced herself to think fast, knitting her brows as she tried to decipher Alexander’s intentions. By all accounts, he and Elodie were close-close enough that he’d given her every resource she ever needed to climb the ladder. Why would he do this now?

Maurice had already drawn his own conclusion. “VistaLink Technologies and Alexander-they’ve both abandoned Elodie.”

She was expendable.

At a moment like this, pushing her forward was a move to draw all of Neural Intelligence’s fire directly onto Elodie.

Sylvie couldn’t argue with that.

For now, it seemed clear: Alexander had sacrificed Elodie to protect the bigger interests of VistaLink Technologies.

So that’s how it was. When it came to matters of real consequence, Alexander could be ruthless.

To him, Elodie had just been a fleeting novelty.

Jarrod only skimmed the statement before turning back to his computer, speaking in an even, unhurried tone. “The statement from VistaLink Technologies doesn’t mention the plagiarism allegations at all. It simply names Elodie as the developer. Maybe it doesn’t mean what you think it does.”

Maurice shrugged. “It’s like asking whether you believe Alexander just threw Elodie away, or you believe Elodie single-handedly developed this flight control system. Isn’t the answer obvious?”

Sylvie didn’t bother to contradict him.

She knew this industry too well. The kind of technical feat in question couldn’t be pulled off by one person, no matter how talented. Elodie might be clever, but not that clever.

She turned to Jarrod, considering for a moment before speaking. “Jarrod, Mr. Sterling’s intentions are clear. By putting Elodie out front, he’s making her take the heat. Now that she’s in the public eye, if Neural Intelligence wants to press charges, they’ll go after her personally. If you have any concerns-”

“I can come up with a compromise if needed.”

She didn’t like admitting it, but Jarrod and Elodie had once been married. If this blew up, Elodie would be in serious trouble.

She also knew Jarrod couldn’t care less about what happened to Elodie.

But if the Silverstein family’s reputation was threatened, that was another matter. Who knew what Elodie might do if she felt cornered?

Maurice arched an eyebrow, offering a sardonic compliment. “How noble of you.” Jarrod’s lashes lowered, his expression unchanged. He hit the enter key, then said with icy detachment, as if he were just a bystander, “Do whatever you think is best.”

Sylvie allowed herself a small, knowing smile.

-Exactly as expected.

After Esmeralda sent out the statement, the industry erupted.

Doubt was everywhere.

First, no one could believe Elodie had developed the system on her own.

Second, people wondered whether this was VistaLink Technologies digging in their heels, or simply setting up a scapegoat.

Elodie paid no mind to the speculation. She had coordinated this move with Alexander from the start. From the moment Sylvie called to suggest sacrificing one to save the team, Elodie had seen it coming.

She volunteered to step forward. In doing so, she gave their opponents a perfect target.

All she needed was for the other side to keep fanning the flames.

If they did, VistaLink Technologies would seize their missteps and counterattack. Assuming everything went according to plan.

Neural Intelligence would surely make the next move, and she needed to gather more evidence of their actions.