Elodie paused mid-step, but with so many people around and too many ears listening, she didn’t say anything. She just followed Alexander upstairs.

Back in the office, Esmeralda rushed in, breathless from hurrying.

“What happened? How did this blow up out of nowhere?” she demanded, looking anxiously at Elodie.

Elodie’s eyes were fixed on the news breaking on her tablet.

Alexander’s expression was grim. “It came out of nowhere no warning at all. Who knew about what happened back then?”

Elodie stared at the report. Every line painted her as someone who’d used underhanded tactics to help Jarrod, even detailing how she’d supposedly “called in” reporters to orchestrate the whole scene. The piece all but branded her as manipulative and shameless.

“There’s no shortage of people who know,” Elodie replied, frowning.

Back then, Malcom had pulled every string he could for the Harcourt family’s business-leaning on old ties with both the Thorne and Silverstein families, desperate for the benefits the Silversteins could bring. He’d resorted to aggressive tactics, even inviting a few industry journalists to cover the event.

He’d tipped off Henrietta as quickly as possible, making it clear the Silversteins were getting the better end of the deal. Out of loyalty to her grandfather’s wartime friendship with Jarrod’s grandfather, Henrietta started pressuring Jarrod to go through with the wedding.

They’d boxed him in from every angle, leaving Jarrod no way to refuse.

The whole thing had been so convoluted that even Elodie, caught in the middle, had felt dazed by it all.

When she thought about it, there really were quite a few people who knew how it went down.

Jarrod managed to suppress the story at the time, but those journalists had since faded into obscurity.

“Who the hell would do this, after all these years? It’s just low!” Esmeralda fumed, nearly shaking with anger. “The marriage is over, for God’s sake. What do they want from you? Have they no shame?”

And to make matters worse, this was happening just as Elodie’s reputation was soaring.

She was a rare genius in the scientific community-everyone was watching her, rooting for her.

Dragging up this ancient scandal

now could only be an attempt to wreck her. What would people think of her now? Admiration would turn to suspicion, even contempt, twisting her image into that of a ruthless schemer willing to do anything to get ahead.

Elodie’s brow furrowed. She and Jarrod were divorced now; she could pretend not

to care, but there was no doubt this would only snowball.

Especially with her set to leave for the research facility next month.

The timing couldn’t be more delicate.

“I think you need to talk to Jarrod and figure out how to handle this,” Alexander

said quickly-after all, it concerned both of them.

Elodie nodded, understanding.

She glanced down at her tablet, just as the comments section loaded.

“Married for years and not a single kid, and now this comes out? No wonder. Honestly, why would Mr. Silverstein even want her to have kids for him in the first place?”

—“If she could pull something like this, I doubt she’s really that talented. Bet she’s just been gaming the system.”

“Her skills are overblown, and her morals are nonexistent.”

There they were, right at the top.

Especially that first comment—it was impossible to ignore.

Esmeralda Saw Elodie’s face tighten, came over for a look, and immediately snatched the tablet away, shutting it off. “Who cares what they think? They shoul@mind their own damn business.”

Elodie had already seen how many people were using this to attack her over not having children.

Whoever leaked this had timed it perfectly, striking when her reputation was at its peak, ensuring the backlash would be even harsher.

“Let’s focus on damage control.

You’ve got plenty of jealous eyes on you-just because we’re dedicated researchers doesn’t mean everyone else plays fair. A lot of people would love to see you fall,” Alexander said, his voice heavy with experience.