How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod's eyes held a hint of mockery. His tone was perfectly neutral, yet there was always something in it that made Elodie feel uneasy.

A sudden flush crept up Elodie's cheeks.

She knew exactly why.

Back then, desperate for Jarrod to get used to her presence and take her seriously as his wife, she'd forced herself to call him "darling" even when it made her cringe. Every other sentence out of her mouth started with that word.

Even when they were intimate, she would murmur it softly against his ear.

Not that it ever mattered.

Jarrod almost never responded to her.

And now, having it laid bare like this, she couldn't help but feel awkward and exposed.

Seeing the change in her expression, Jarrod felt a sense of inevitability. She was still the same Elodie.

No matter how composed she seemed on the surface, she always gave herself away eventually.

He let out a quiet, derisive laugh, then turned away, clearly done with the conversation.

But to Elodie, his attitude was more grating than words.

matter anymore, since they'd be divorced soon anyway—but before she could, the elevator doors slid

and disappeared down the corridor without

even get

tirade. "If this deal hadn't been settled last month, I swear, I'd have torn that woman's little façade

owned more companies than anyone could count, dabbling across industries, and his manufacturing firm, VistaLink Technologies, was one of the best. They'd worked with Nexus Analytics on several drone manufacturing contracts before-always a smooth

But that was then.

had turned into Sylvie's

to soothe Esmeralda. "I'm all right. We'll run into each other in business again for sure. VistaLink

face in public, Jarrod

all, he'd

thing Elodie wanted was for her company to get caught

brat can still act so smug! She thinks she's something special? There's always someone better

her phone toward Elodie. "Look! I posted your photo on my story and the comments section exploded-everyone's asking if you're single, begging me to introduce them. Take a look, see if anyone catches your eye. Time to shine-in love and business! Let Jarrod

reserved, never one to seek attention, so she often drifted into

you noticed her, it was impossible to look

just smiled faintly. "Jarrod won't care. And I don't

this morning

illness, there

to invest her time and strength into things

home, baked a batch of sweet pastries, and brought them

uncle's fees were due

his smile was gentle. "It's freezing out—what are you