NovelUpdateChapter 105 The words Elodie wanted to say caught in her throat.
She looked up at him, frowning slightly. "Mr. Silverstein, you're overthinking this. I wasn't going to ask you for it." Jarrod didn't react, merely studying her pale, delicate face with a thoughtful gaze.
From where he stood, he could see the sharp angle of her chin, and her face, already small, seemed even more fragile after these past weeks. It made her calm, clear eyes appear even larger.
Suddenly, he reached out and gently took hold of her chin, lifting it to get a better look.
His other hand hovered, barely touching the curve of her waist.
"Are you on a diet?" he asked, his tone cool and detached, though there was a trace of something else in his eyes. "Or is there sreason you've lost your appetite lately?" She'd grown noticeably thinner around the waist.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtElodie avoided his gaze, surprised by his observation. So, he could tell she'd changed. But that was as far as it went. Even if he knew the truth about her illness, he probably wouldn't care in the slightest.
Once she'd regained her balance, she tried to push him away, her voice chilly. "Can you let go ofnow?" She didn't answer his question directly.
Jarrod didn't press her. He let his arms fall, giving her space to steady herself.
Elodie braced a hand against his chest for support as she pulled away. Just as she was about to step back, she caught sight of Naylor in the hallway. He'd just cin from outside and, quite unexpectedly, walked in on the moment she broke free from Jarrod's arms.
Naylor's expression shifted instantly, becoming difficult to read.
Moments earlier, Jarrod had made a generous gesture for Sylvie's sake, conceding a point to the Warwick family over a painting worth less than a million.
It was clear to everyone that Sylvie and Jarrod were a couple.
And now...
Why was Elodie in his arms? Naylor's look was undeniably loaded, and Elodie knew exactly what he was probably thinking.
But there was no way to explain this without making things worse. When she and Jarrod were still married, he wouldn't even let her acknowledge their relationship in public-let alone now.
"Mr. Silverstein, what's going on here?" Naylor asked, walking over with a polite smile.
Jarrod's face stayed perfectly composed. "Just talking about a few things." Naylor nodded, acting as if he understood. "Alright, I won't interrupt, then." As he turned to go, he glanced back at Elodie, his expression a mix of surprise and something else he couldn't quite disguise.
He was genuinely caught off guard. Earlier, when Grady had made insinuations about Elodie, Naylor hadn't believed she was that kind of woman. She always seemed so cool and composed, her eyes frank and unguarded, with none of the usual affectations. Besides, she was strikingly beautiful in a way that set her apart.
He'd always had a decent impression of her.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut now? Had she really tried to seduce someone else's boyfriend out in the open? It just went to show-you never can judge by appearances.
Elodie noticed Naylor's look but didn't dwell on it. She turned back to Jarrod.
"About the painting-I wasn't asking you to give it to me. You can give it to Sylvie if you want. But... could I take a few photos of it?" Even if she couldn't have the painting itself, having pictures would still help.
"I'll send them to you," Jarrod replied without hesitation.
He agreed so readily it caught her off guard. Elodie let out a breath of relief. "Thank you." Jarrod studied her for a few seconds, his gaze unreadable. "Very polite of you." With that, he turned and walked away.
Elodie couldn't tell if his words were meant as a compliment or a jab, and honestly, she didn't care As long'as ve Jarrod was willing to give her the photos, she could keep searching for her mother's painting-and that was all that mattered. Meanwhile, Naylor had returned to the lounge area.
Grady, having just finished a round of small talk, spotted him and walked over. "Mr. Whitaker ist arrived. Ms. Fielding was hoping to discuss that new material from TerraCore Technologies with you."
Naylor took a sip of his drink, his eyes drifting over to where Sylvie was holding court chatting animatedly with a group of guests.
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