Chapter 703
When it came to matters of real consequence, it seemed they always stood back to back, never quite on the same side.
That realization left Watts silent for a long while.
He felt a vague sense of disquiet-part surprise, part confusion, and something else he couldn’t put a name to, prickling just beneath his skin.
He forced down the unfamiliar discomfort before finally speaking. “I came today because I wanted to tell you if you need help, I’m here. Anytime.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Elodie set her cup aside. “I never said I couldn’t handle it myself. You don’t need to get involved.”
That calm, almost effortless composure-he’d rarely seen it in any woman. In fact, even most men, seasoned by hardship, rarely carried themselves like this.
Looking at her now, Watts found himself at a loss for words. Something about her struck a nerve deep in his brain.
She really was different from everyone else.
Elodie didn’t seem to care what was running through Watts’s mind. She stood, glanced at him, and asked, “Actually, I’m curious, Mr. Aldridge-what made you so sure? On what basis did you decide that I’m playing games with Jarrod, or that he’s planning to cut me loose?”
Most people who didn’t know the details of their situation would never jump to such conclusions.
At this, Watts met her gaze, something complicated flickering in his eyes. “If your relationship was solid, there’d be no room for another woman to step in. And if you’d really lost a child, you’d be devastated. I just looked at the facts. After everything that’s happened, I doubt you could still trust him with your whole heart. As for him-well, if he doesn’t love you, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do.”
Hearing someone else say Jarrod didn’t love her—most people agreed with that assessment.
Elodie lowered her gaze, lost in thought, and finally said, “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Aldridge. But you don’t need to worry about Jarrod forcing me out for the sake of protecting his business interests. As for your role in my treatment, I’ve already made myself clear.”
With that, she nodded and headed for the door.
Watts remained at the table, staring down at the untouched cup of coffee Elodie
had ordered for him. After a long moment, he finally picked it up and took a slow sip.
Looking back, his answer to her question had sounded like the jealous speculation of a man nursing a grudge.
But in truth…
He knew exactly what had been going on between Elodie and Jarrod lately. He understood the fault lines in their marriage. He’d heard all about the incident at the
hospital-and he knew every detail.
So he’d tossed out those pointed doubts, hoping to plant seeds of suspicion in
Elodie’s mind, to make her question Jarrod.
What he hadn’t expected was her complete refusal to believe Jarrod would ever retaliate against her, even after everything that had happened with the baby. She still trusted Jarrod not to hurt her.
That was the one thing that caught him off guard.
Whether or not they suspected each other wasn’t the most important part of the situation. But Elodie’s unwavering faith in Jarrod stirred something strange and unpleasant in him—resentment, maybe? He couldn’t even explain it to himself.
He found the whole feeling deeply unsettling.
When Elodie returned to her apartment complex from the café, she noticed a familiar car parked outside—a car that hadn’t been there in ages.
Jarrod’s car.
He must have seen her, because he stepped out as she approached.
He glanced past her, as if searching for someone behind. “Finished your chat?”
She frowned. “You saw us?”
Jarrod didn’t deny it. “I got here early and saw you two by the window. Looked like a lively conversation.”
“Why didn’t you come in?”
“Didn’t want to interrupt.” Jarrod leaned against the car, his dark eyes reflecting nothing but her face. “Am I even allowed to meddle in your private affairs?”
The way he said it—he’d already placed himself firmly on the outside, keeping a careful distance. Like he was already practicing for life after the divorce.