That didn't stop her from indulging her twisted sense of humor. She pulled off her own belt and handed it to him,
then patted his cheek lightly. "However you managed after our ‘divorce, just do it again."
Without giving Jarrod a chance to react, she grabbed her suitcase and strode off, not looking back.
Clean, decisive, and utterly merciless.
Jarrod watched the retreating figure, her beige coat belt still dangling from his palm. He rubbed it absently
between his fingers, his eyes never leaving her back.
After a long moment, his lips curled into a wry smile.
He lowered his gaze to the belt in his hand, gripping it unconsciously—this, after all, was Elodie's parting token,
one that would keep his mind running wild.
When Elodie chose to be wicked, he was utterly defenseless.
He waited until she disappeared inside before finally getting into his car.
After everything that had happened abroad with Watts and Quinn, the domestic arrangements were now tighter
and more secure. With comprehensive precautions in place, there would be no more problems.
He'd also gotten word that on Watts's end, Eaton had sent people to get things under control. There was no way
Eaton would let further trouble break out with his own retirement looming. As expected, Eaton's intervention
forced Watts to consider the fate of the entire Aldridge family; he had no choice but to swallow the loss.
Now, setting aside the wedding, Jarrod needed to cut off every escape route for the second branch of the family.
Back then, he'd banished Sprague Silverstein and his cohorts abroad, assigning them to the company's Italian
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtoperations.
Sprague actually believed he had figured out every inch of that company.
But the reality was quite different.
Jarrod's people had remained hidden, waiting for his command.
He was ready to shut down every factory and office the family owned in Italy. As
for Sprague... it was tfor him to step down and lose any last shred of influence.
Jarrod wouldn't give him another chance to cling to life.
He'd already had
a conversation
with the old matriarch. She was a
battle-hardened woman who
met
understood that the worst thing, family could do was betray its own humanity for profit getting power that way
would only tear the house. apart. s
She never voiced an opinion on his methods. In her silence, he found approval.
So Jarrod didn't plan to hold back.
He'd just started the car when his phone lit up with a call.
He answered, sounding almost bored.
Ivan's voice cthrough, hoarse and strained. "Jarrod, what's the meaning of
this invitation you sent me?"
Was he trying to stab him right in the heart?
Jarrod turned the wheel and spoke slowly, "I'm a firm believer in
In
reciprocity | used to be bothered by what went on between you and Elodie that thorn's been there for
years. But now I'm clear: Elodie's
heart was always mine. I'm happy, so
| figured it was sy evenything
Re table Mah t about to be
stingy with the invitation. You should
see for yourself just how happy she
is to marry me-and maybe then you'll
stop worrying about my wife." s The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
There was nothing overtly wrong with his words.
Yet every syllable cut like a knife.
Ivan could hardly believe a man like Jarrod would say such things to him.
It was a mixture of gloating, warning, and the disdain of a victor.
Like he was finally venting years of pent-up frustration.
It wasn't quite like Jarrod to be so petty.
But when it cto possessiveness and jealousy, Jarrod never bothered to hide
it. Even in front of a former rival, he
was utterly direct because @sw, fie
[
was;gohfident, He had won. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
He made it perfectly clear: Elodie had only ever been Mrs. Silverstein.
Jarrod looked ahead at the open
road, his voice as calm as ever. "The
invitation's been delivered, Mp, m
RETR RIE tod Sdsy don't
tlouble yourself Just knowing we
have your blessing is enough for us."
s