Elodie hurried into a small, exclusive bistro, the kind where every dish had to be reserved in advance.

The moment she stepped inside, she was greeted by the sight of Esmeralda, her face flushed with anger, and across from her, Reba, her hair a wild, tangled mess.

“What happened?” Elodie’s expression cooled instantly as she rushed over to check Esmeralda for injuries. She noticed angry red marks scratched across Esmeralda’s neck.

Reba was the first to speak, her tone sharp and scornful. “Birds of a feather, aren’t you? You’re just as unreasonable and vulgar as she is!”

Esmeralda stood up, her voice trembling with fury. “You think you’re in the right?”

She gritted her teeth. “If I hadn’t chosen this place for lunch, I never would have found out-your father actually brought his illegitimate daughter here to meet Jarrod! What, hoping Jarrod would trade in his sister-in-law for a mistress?”

She spat the words out with contempt. “Disgusting! Absolutely shameless!”

She’d arrived just in time to overhear the conversation from the private dining room. Malcom was introducing his secret daughter to Jarrod, suggesting Reba should ‘learn from Jarrod.’ Learn what, exactly? How to please a man?

Reba knew Esmeralda could be viciously blunt, and being called out like this left her red-faced with anger. She strode forward, snapping, “Why do you have to be so nasty?”

Elodie stepped in, pulling Esmeralda protectively behind her. She couldn’t believe Malcom could be so callous-her own father, instead of showing care, had become the knife in her back. Jarrod might not love her, but did her father have to push her into humiliation?

She drew a slow, steadying breath.

Her eyes like ice, she stared at Reba. “No matter what happened, you hurt someone. You owe Esme an apology.”

Reba let out a bitter laugh. “Elodie, if I were you, I’d be too ashamed to show my face around here! Married to Mr. Silverstein, doing everything to please him, but you still can’t win his heart. He’s sick of you-maybe you should ask yourself why?”

Her lips curled in mockery. “He doesn’t like your looks, he doesn’t want you in his bed, you’re a complete failure. What’s the point of even trying?”

Elodie fixed her with a cold stare. “So you think you’ve won, then?”

For a moment, Reba’s expression faltered. “Oh? Did I hit a nerve?”

Elodie’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “What do I care? You and your Harcourt clan are the ones with no shame. Should I help you make a public announcement? That, in this day and age, you’re all for two women serving one husband?”

She gave a short, scornful laugh.

“Elodie! Have you no decency? We’re only doing this for your own good!” Reba shot back.

Just then, Malcom emerged from the private room, disappointment written all over his face as he looked at Elodie.

How had she become so sharp, so confrontational? Where was the dignity she was supposed to uphold?

Elodie met his gaze.

Across the room, Jarrod stood apart from the fray, looking like a disinterested observer. When his eyes met hers, his brow furrowed in irritation. Standing beside him was Maurice, clearly entertained by the whole spectacle.

This dinner had originally been Maurice and Jarrod’s plan with Sylvie; she hadn’t arrived yet when Malcom insisted on joining them. One thing led to another, and now this mess had exploded.

The Harcourt family-never a dull moment.

Elodie avoided Jarrod’s gaze, instead turning her sarcasm on Malcom. “So you do know shame after all. I thought President Harcourt had long since forgotten what a conscience was.”

Malcom shook his head in disappointment, then looked helplessly at Jarrod. “Mr. Silverstein, I’m sorry. Clearly I’ve failed as a father. Elodie’s always been sharp- tongued-just like her mother, stubborn and relentless…”

Jarrod’s frown deepened. Running into Malcom tonight had been completely unplanned. He had no interest in the Harcourt family’s theatrics, but now there was no graceful way out.

He looked at Elodie for a long moment. She was beautiful, her delicate features now icy and unyielding-he’d never seen her like this before.

“Enough.” His tone was colder than usual as he fixed his gaze on her.

Elodie didn’t spare him a glance. She only looked at Reba, voice unwavering. “Apologize. Say you’re sorry to Esme.”

She refused to let anyone close to her suffer humiliation or injustice on her account.

At that moment, Sylvie arrived, walking straight to Jarrod’s side. Her voice was gentle. “Did you wait long?”

Jarrod turned to her immediately. “Not at all.”

Seeing this, Reba flashed a crooked smile. “See, Elodie? Looks like you really just can’t measure up.”