To think she’d dare make it all the way to a public proposal… That girl truly has no shame left.

Absolutely shameless!

Jarrod didn’t argue. He simply asked, “So, are you satisfied with how things turned out tonight?”

The old lady gave a cold snort. “From now on, your marriage to Elodie is out in the open. No matter what went on between you and Sylvie, she’s finished. She’s been basking in the perks of the ‘future Mrs. Silverstein’ title for ages, and now? She’s the one who has to bear the disgrace. Isn’t this all just the consequences of her own actions?”

After tonight, Sylvie’s reputation in these circles was finished-ruined beyond repair.

Jarrod understood exactly what this meant. He didn’t respond further, showing no sign of wanting to challenge his grandmother. His posture was casual, almost indifferent.

By the time Elodie returned, the two had already finished their discussion.

She didn’t bother to ask how things would play out next. In truth, everyone in the Silverstein family had always known about Sylvie. Tonight was simply the first real confrontation.

Elodie understood there was no need for the old lady to tear away the last pretense. After all, for families like theirs, reputation was everything. The old lady had lashed out in anger, but even though Jarrod was the one at fault, she’d set aside all those things the family held dear just to protect her own grandson. Elodie couldn’t help but owe her for that.

Some truths, once seen, can never be spoken aloud.

Finally, a servant brought out the cake.

The old lady, wanting to give the two of them a moment alone-perhaps hoping the ice between them would finally melt-took her leave.

Elodie stayed where she was, the candlelight flickering across Jarrod’s face from across the table.

In the end, it turned out her birthday would be spent alone with him after all.

She almost found the whole thing funny.

If she’d refused to come to the old house today and thrown a fit, the old lady would’ve just assumed she and Jarrod were fighting, and that would have created even more trouble for her. Elodie hated wasting her time dealing with

unnecessary drama; best to get everything over with tonight.

Jarrod, for his part, didn’t seem bothered by the evening’s farce.

She understood his temperament-no matter how dire things got, he always

found a way to handle it. Almost nothing could shake his composure.

It wasn’t that he didn’t care about Sylvie’s predicament. More likely, he already had a solution in mind.

Jarrod watched the glowing candle for a long moment, then, as tradition required, leaned forward and gently blew it out.

The instant he did, Elodie looked at him and said, “Let your grandmother know I’m leaving. I have something to do.”

She didn’t intend to stay even a minute longer.

Nor did she plan to share a slice of cake with Jarrod. The candle was out-so much for that ritual.

She’d only come back tonight because the old lady had insisted; staying overnight was out of the question.

Jarrod didn’t argue. He got up, his

voice calm. “I’ll go with you. If you et

leave my grandmother

never let me hear the end

will

“}

He wasn’t wrong.

Elodie said nothing more.

Jarrod told a servant to inform the old lady, then walked with Elodie toward the door.

Under the bleak moonlight, Elodie

strode

follow ead, her pace brisk. Jarrod

followed behind at a leisurely

vel?

distance, always keeping about six feet between them.

Neither spoke. There was no discussion of how they’d deal with the fallout from

the sudden revelation of their relationship.

Elodie had come in the old lady’s car; now she’d need Jarrod to drive her out.

“Just

a cab,

Somewhere I can call

, thanks,” Elodie said

sliding into the front passen sple

seat

without hesitation. Content Belongs

She had no intention of sitting in the back with him.

Jarrod didn’t say a word.

He didn’t call for the driver, either.

Instead, to Elodie’s surprise, he got behind the wheel himself.

“I’ll take you home. What’s your address?”