NovelEnglishChapter 698 The next morning.
Elodie was up at dawn.
Her submission of the material data had finally been approved. At the last minute, she was informed that Jarrod's team would be running a live trial of the materials in the hangar-a new step that hadn't been part of the process before. Clearly, someone had just added it to the schedule.
She needed to be there to oversee everything.
The SX Alloy would be adapted for use in all fighter jets, and if today's impromptu test went smoothly, it would officially be put into service.
The test site was set up in Sector Three.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSeveral high-level executives would be coming today as well.
As the project partner, Jarrod was expected to attend. It was, after all, a historic moment.
Klein Whitaker and his team were still upstairs in a meeting when Jarrod arrived at the test site.
He had barely set foot on the grounds when he spotted Patricia, visitor's badge in hand.
With the proper clearance, she was allowed to observe any experiments that weren't strictly classified.
As soon as she saw Jarrod, Patricia made a beeline for him. "I figured you'd be here today," she said.
Jarrod looked away, his voice cool. "Miss Aldridge, you seem to have a lot of free time." Patricia laughed softly. "That all depends on how you spend it. If it's on people and things that matter, then I wouldn't call it wasted." Jarrod had no intention of entertaining her banter. His expression, as always, was unreadable.
Patricia studied him, head tilted in faint concern. "Are you all right? You seem a little off today. Did something happen between you and Elodie?" Jarrod didn't answer. He hadn't been sleeping well lately, and traveling overseas so often had worn him down. And Elodie... she was still a thorn in his side.
"You sure you're okay? I don't think I've ever seen you like this. You didn't have a fight with Elodie, did you?" Patricia reached out, as if to touch his arm in comfort.
Jarrod's eyes flickered with something hard to place, and he instinctively stepped back, wanting to avoid her touch.
Just then, Elodie stepped out of the car-just in tto see Patricia's hand hovering, half-touching, half-clinging to Jarrod's arm.
Jarrod retreated, lifting his gaze to meet Elodie's.
al.n After everything that had happened at the hospital, seeing Patricia in person made Elodie pause for a brief second, but her face betrayed nothing. When Jarrod looked her way, she simply turned and walked over to greet Clifford instead.
Patricia didn't seem to mind Jarrod dodging her touch. She smiled, her tone ambiguous. "You know, Elodie really doesn't seem to care about you. That's not how a wife treats the man she loves. Does she even love you?" Jarrod's expression remained unchanged. But her words struck a nerve-a sharp, familiar ache.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThat, after all, was the crux of everything that had gone wrong between him and Elodie lately.
He didn't let it show. His voice was calm, almost indifferent. "That's because she knows she's the only one I care about. No one else matters enough for her to be bothered." Patricia's smile faded, her breath catching at the sting of his words.
Her eyes turned hard as she looked at him. "Jarrod, you're not the type to settle. She's still wrapped up in mess with Ivan. If she can't be honestor loyal or even genuine, why put up with her? You deserve someone better. Someone who'd actually put you first." Anyone else might have been swayed by such gentle persuasion-especially at a moment so raw and painful.
But Jarrod just glanced at her, cool and unmoved. "Whatever happens betweenand Elodie, it won't change the fact that nothing will ever happen between you and me." Patricia's elegant features stiffened, her composure cracking.
Jarrod turned and walked toward the observation area.
Patricia watched his retreating back for a long moment before her gaze drifted over to Elodie.
She couldn't understand it.
What would it take for Jarrod to finally cut ties with Elodie for good?
She'd never considered Elodie a true rival in any sense, but Jarrod's m attitude made her seethe with frustration.
She was starting to wonder if Jarrod was only clinging to Elodie to keep Patricia at bay on if he was just hopelessly, stubbornly devoted to her.
When Jarrod arrived, Klein waved him over. "Mr. Silverstein! Today's a big day if all goes well, we'll be seeing a lot more of each other." Jarrod didn't look at Elodie-he simply nodded politely. "The pleasure's mine."
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