NovelUSAElodie helped the old woman settle into her chair. "I'll take good care of myself, you don't have to worry." The old woman's hand moved gently over Elodie's slender wrist, her eyes full of concern. "You call this taking care of yourself? Look how much weight you've lost lately!" She sighed, thinking ahead as always. "And childbirth takes a toll on a woman's health. If your body's weak and you get pregnant, it'll be even harder on you. Better to start building your strength up now, before it becomes an issue." Elodie didn't know how to respond.
Her grandmother's heart was still set on her giving the Silverstein family an heir, but that was impossible now... They were getting divorced.
Even if they weren't, her health wouldn't allow it anymore.
Seeing Elodie's silence, the old woman hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Sweetheart, you and Jarrod have been married three years now and still no baby. Why don't you two go get checked out together one of these days?" Worried Elodie might take it the wrong way, she quickly added, "Both of you should get checked. If there's a problem, it's better to find out early and get it treated. Isn't that right?" Her grandmother's traditional values were clear in her expression-a quiet suspicion lingering beneath her gentle concern.
Elodie paused, suddenly understanding her grandmother's worries.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNo matter how much love the old woman showed her, the Silverstein legacy still mattered most.
She pressed her lips together, about to broach the subject of the divorce, when a housekeeper appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Silverstein is home." Jarrod strode in, his eyes lingering on Elodie for a moment. He slung his suit jacket casually over his arm, and after spotting her, walked straight to her side. "Grandmother, sorry I'm late. Traffic was terrible." Elodie felt his arm brush lightly against her as he passed. She subtly shifted away, putting a little more space between them.
Jarrod noticed, but didn't seem to care.
When they all sat down at the dinner table, the old woman pushed a plate of freshly shelled lobster toward Elodie. "Eat more, dear. Make an effort this year- by the end of it, maybe you'll have good news for us." Elodie hesitated, unsure what to say.
Jarrod took a piece of lobster and placed it on his grandmother's plate. "You should try this, it's especially sweet and tender tonight." She shot him a look, instantly seeing through his attempt to change the subject.
"Don't try to distract me! You're not getting any younger, and you still aren't ready to be a father?" Jarrod's lips curled in a faint, noncommittal smile. "We'll see." Elodie kept her head down, focusing on her food.
She had to admit, Jarrod was skilled at deflecting awkward conversations.
After dinner, the old woman insisted Elodie go upstairs to rest. She hadn't planned on staying over, and glanced at Jarrod, hoping he'd offer an excuse for her. But he was absorbed in something on his laptop, completely oblivious.
Elodie gave up, figuring that Jarrod would leave soon anyway; he never stayed the night.
Their old bedroom was still there, unchanged. The last tshe'd visited, Octavia had sent her to the guest room, but tonight, her grandmother personally escorted her to the master suite. Elodie didn't dare protest.
She took a shower. Jarrod never cupstairs.
She guessed he was probably waiting until his grandmother went to bed so he could spend twith Sylvie. Her phone alarm went off, reminding her to take her medication.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe grabbed the bottle and made her way downstairs.
At the staircase landing, she caught sight of Lucinda talking to Jarrod.
Lucinda had never understood why the old woman favored Elodie so om much- especially when it cto the issue of having children. She'd always been dissatisfied with the arrangement. "What are you thinking?" Lucinda asked.
Jarrod was still absorbed in spreadsheets, not looking up. "About what, exactly?"
Lucinda frowned. "Do you really want to have a child with Elodie? Once om there's a baby, you can just walk away it'l be a mess if you try to end things with her. I know you're not that fond of her." How could Jarrod ever love a woman who'd manipulated him? If anything, he could barely stand the sight of her.
He took a sip of his drink, refusing to take the bait or argue. "So you're disagreeing with Grandmother, then?"
Lucinda pursed her lips. "I'm just thinking of what's best for you. Elodie's pretty enough and she's calm, but her background's nothing special, and her education's average at best. Raising the next generation isn't just about looks." "It's about genes." "Good genes matter most. Someone like Sylvie, a true high-achiever, would give the next generation a real advantage."
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