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.

they'd be divorced soon anyway—but before she could,

corridor without so much as a

even get

deal hadn't been settled last month, I swear, I'd have torn that woman's little façade to shreds! Lying there like

industries, and his manufacturing firm, VistaLink Technologies, was one of the best. They'd worked with Nexus

But that was then.

turned into

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

Sylvie really lost face in public, Jarrod

all, he'd always shielded

thing Elodie wanted was for her company to get

was both furious and protective. "They're all idiots! Just let your confidentiality agreement expire-then let's see if that little brat can still act so smug! She thinks she's

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

naturally reserved, never one to seek attention, so she

you noticed her, it was impossible to

And

morning is to secure

her illness, there were

only wanted to invest her time and strength into things that

baked a batch of sweet

fees

her, his smile was gentle.