Chapter 513
“Ms. Fielding, I expect results that satisfy me.”
Lucinda couldn’t be bothered to linger any longer.
Recent events had already spiraled out of her control.
Jarrod hadn’t agreed to deal with Sylvie the way she wanted; he was still intent on protecting her. So, if she had to come down here herself, then so be it. If Sylvie refused to cooperate, Lucinda had no qualms about using other, less pleasant
means.
She didn’t even bother to take a sip of water, turning away with an icy detachment that radiated from her eyes.
Her demeanor appeared calm and unruffled, but there was a razor’s edge beneath the surface.
Sylvie understood perfectly well that Lucinda had more tricks up her sleeve; for all she knew, Lucinda might even interfere in the lawsuit this time.
These past days, Sylvie had tasted a humiliation she’d never known before.
She’d grown up pampered in a wealthy family, always surrounded by privilege.
She’d flourished in a world of fine art and culture, her natural talent carrying her to the top of her class, all the way to an elite university. She’d been admired and courted by everyone around her. And now-now she was being treated with utter contempt?
Wasn’t the real problem Elodie, that woman who clung to Jarrod and refused to let go? If Elodie had even an ounce of self-respect, she’d bow out of this fight gracefully, leaving the stage with what little dignity she had!
Instead, here they were-Elodie resorting to dirty tricks, all because she couldn’t
stand not being loved, dragging everything down to this sorry state.
Sylvie drew a deep breath, her expression tight with pent-up resentment.
The idea of mortgaging her house suddenly seemed far too risky.
If Lucinda decided to target her, mortgaging the house could open up a whole
new set of problems-problems she might never recover from.
It felt like she was trapped, with a cliff edge before and behind her.
As for distancing herself from Jarrod? She wasn’t stupid. Someone like Jarrod- Lucinda could never truly control him. Whatever Jarrod set his mind to, not even Lucinda could stop him from protecting her.
After a long silence, Sylvie finally lifted her gaze, eyes fixed on a distant spot, as a new idea began to form.
When Elodie picked up the ringing landline, Lucinda’s voice greeted her. “Are you free? Could you come home for a bit today?”
Elodie’s hands slowed as she organized her files, a strange look flickering in her eyes. “Is there something you need?”
Lucinda’s tone was unreadable. “I’d like to talk to you about Sylvie.”
This, Elodie found almost amusing.
Lucinda
didn’t wait
wait for her reply
before continuing, “You’ve always
Pet
been rather passive about certain things. But you’re Jarrod’s legal wife, after all. Handling those women outside-it’s hardly difficult for you, and it would be the proper thing to do. As for Jarrod, I’ll help you win him over.”
For a moment, Elodie wondered if she’d misheard.
It was simply too absurd.
Lucinda had never involved herself in matters like this before.
In fact, she’d always thought Elodie wasn’t good enough for the Silverstein family-her background her abilities, nothing measured up to Jarrod She’d always believed the family had been forced into the marriage, convinced Elodie had schemed her way in.
And now? Now she wanted to help?
It didn’t take Elodie long to see through Lucinda’s sudden shift in attitude-she
was simply weighing her options.
Elodie set down her files, her voice
even and cool. “Have you forgotten? You were the one who said Sylvie was the perfect match for your family a top graduate from a prestigious school, brilliant, cultured, the ideal candidate to carry on the Silverstein legacy. Wasn’t just stepping aside for your grand plan?”
Lucinda froze, caught off guard.
Elodie knew Lucinda was only reaching out because the recent scandals had finally made her uneasy-but there had to be more, something else Lucinda couldn’t ignore.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work now,” Elodie finished, not bothering to feign politeness.
After hanging up, she couldn’t help but shake her head in dry amusement.
If Lucinda ever found out she and Jarrod were already divorced—and that Jarrod was now utterly fixated on Sylvie, whose reputation was in tatters-she’d probably be even more desperate.