One rejection after another-it was all too much. Sylvie felt herself unraveling, unable to keep up the poised composure she’d always prided herself on. No one could be expected to weather this kind of storm without breaking.

She’d told herself she could handle it, that she’d figure something out on her own before dragging anyone else into this mess.

But now…

It was as if she’d been yanked out of her daydream and dumped back into cold, hard reality.

Reality that stung-a raw, unyielding truth.

She realized, painfully, that she didn’t actually have any useful connections. Maybe she’d never really belonged in this world, never truly stood as an equal among these people.

Joseph’s reaction, especially, was something she just couldn’t accept.

Right now, Maurice was the only one left who might still speak up for her. Even if

all he could do was try persuading Joseph, or slip word of her situation to Jarrod -anything would be better than nothing.

Sylvie’s hopes sank lower and lower.

She didn’t care about appearances anymore. She spun her car around and headed straight for the club where Maurice spent most of his time.

When Maurice heard Sylvie was there, he didn’t stop her. Instead, he sent someone to bring her in.

As she entered, Maurice looked her over. It was the first time he’d ever seen the once-glamorous Sylvie look so disheveled, so desperate. Yet beneath the desperation, there was still an unmistakable fire in her eyes—a stubborn ambition that refused to die.

“So, you’re free to move around now?” Maurice arched an eyebrow, his tone casual.

The question struck a nerve. Of course she wasn’t free-she was still being watched, she knew that.

“I came to ask if you know what Jarrod’s plans are right now,” Sylvie said, her voice guarded. “You know this whole thing… wasn’t what I wanted.”

She was out of options.

Maurice perched on a barstool, watching her with a faint, almost amused smile. “What plans could Jarrod possibly have?”

Sylvie hesitated, searching his face. “So he hasn’t figured out a solution?”

Maurice poured himself a drink, shrugged with a half-smile. “I think you’ve got it backwards. The public’s furious with you, you know. You’ve got a lot of critics right now. If you hadn’t tried to publicly attack Elodie, maybe things wouldn’t have gotten so ugly. With all this negativity swirling around you, do you really think…”

He paused, letting the question hang between them. “Why would someone like Jarrod risk his reputation for you?”

Sylvie stared at him in shock.

He still looked friendly enough, just like he always had.

But his words…

Her heart plummeted, her face paling despite herself. “Maurice, what are you trying to say?”

Maurice set his glass down. “No one forced you to take shortcuts. The Silverstein family is all about power and influence, but they’re not going to waste their resources on someone who brings them nothing but trouble. What made you think Jarrod was the kind of man who’d lose his head over a woman?”

Sylvie was stunned, icy dread creeping up her spine.

Maurice stood. “I’ve got things to do. You know your way out.”

He walked away, leaving her in the echoing emptiness.

A high-pitched ringing filled Sylvie’s ears.

Something was dragging her down, threatening to pull her under-but she couldn’t accept it, couldn’t believe it.

How could Jarrod just abandon her? They’d always been close-hadn’t they?

Suddenly, images of Elodie’s

polished, radiant success flashed through her mind. Now that the

Silverstein family had seen what net

Elodie could do, would they really give her up? The answer was obvious.

Elodie had never even needed to participate, but because Sylvie was there, she’d made a point of showing up-deliberately setting Sylvie up for a public humiliation, just to shine in comparison.

The thought of Elodie’s scheming made Sylvie sick to her stomach.

Hatred flashed in her eyes, but what she couldn’t accept the thing that truly gnawed at her—was the idea that Jarrod might actually turn his back on her.

Sylvie clung to the edge of the table for support, willing herself to hold it together. She dialed Jarrod’s number once more.

After all, they’d gotten so much closer lately. Their relationship was more than just casual now…

There was no way Jarrod would really give up on her. Absolutely not.