How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

"No need. I'm leaving," Elodie said, her patience worn thin. She had no interest in sticking around and being a third wheel.

But as she turned to go, a warm hand closed firmly around her wrist. Jarrod's gaze was cool, almost indifferent. "You stay. I'll switch rooms."

Elodie frowned, about to wrench free, but Jarrod released her first, deliberately widening the distance between them. "If you leave now, it'll be hard to explain things to my grandmother."

So that's what this was about. Elodie stared at him, incredulous. "You want me to cover for you with Sylvie? Make it easier to lie to your grandmother?"

What exactly did he take her for?

Jarrod met her eyes, adjusting his cufflinks with practiced calm. "If you hadn't come, none of this trouble would've happened."

A tight knot formed in Elodie's chest. So it was her fault, then?

Pressing her lips together, she forced herself to stay composed. "Fine. But you approve my resignation-immediately."

Jarrod's dark eyes narrowed slightly, a faint, ambiguous smirk touching his lips. "That's acceptable."

Elodie couldn't make sense of that smile.

She turned and walked straight back to her room.

No wonder Jarrod hadn't told her about coming to Mount Serene he'd brought Sylvie here for a romantic getaway. If she'd known, she never would have come.

She told herself she

suitcase and checking out the guesthouse's amenities. There was a riding stable,

headed straight for

heard a woman's playful voice, "Ivan! Stop nudging

lazy, teasing reply drifted over. "Blame the horse, not

stopped in

A man and woman shared a horse, the man's arm around her waist, one hand holding the reins, the other tilting her chin up for a

too obvious. Ivan glanced over, his gaze darkening, a frown flickering across his face as if their romantic moment had

stung. For over a decade, Ivan had protected her, treated her as someone precious, never once saying a harsh word. He'd been her first love,

years ago, when Ivan got into trouble, she'd agreed to marry Jarrod in exchange for Malcom's promise to reduce Ivan's sentence. Even if she'd moved on, Ivan was still family-her most important person. Now, he couldn't even muster basic courtesy; his indifference cut

with Jarrod and never won his heart.

love soured into nothing? Had even

to leave quietly,

"Elodie? You're here too! Come join us for lunch? My

surprised. So

probably knew all about her disastrous marriage

about her, Jarrod's wife, and how she was

thanks. I've already eaten," Elodie replied, her

doesn't look

a grown woman. She'll