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.

to shake off the annoyance. She told

out the guesthouse's amenities. There was a riding stable, and guests could go

headed straight for the

barely arrived when she heard a woman's playful voice, "Ivan! Stop nudging

lazy, teasing reply drifted over. "Blame the horse,

in

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

must have been too obvious. Ivan glanced over, his gaze darkening, a frown flickering across his face as if their romantic

Ivan had protected her, treated her as someone precious, never once saying a harsh word. He'd been

moved on, Ivan was still family-her most important person. Now, he couldn't even muster basic courtesy; his indifference cut deeper

with Jarrod and never won his

into nothing? Had even family ties faded

to leave quietly, not wanting to

out, "Elodie? You're here too! Come join us for lunch? My friend Sylvie and her boyfriend are

was Queenie. Elodie hesitated, surprised. So Queenie knew Sylvie? That

all about her disastrous marriage

about her, Jarrod's wife,

already eaten," Elodie replied, her mood

look well. Is she sick? Maybe

"She's a grown woman.