How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Esmeralda's brows knitted sharply at those words, as if she wanted to say something, but Elodie stopped her with a slight shake of her head.

At the same time, Elodie noticed Sylvie's gaze drifting in her direction. Clearly, Sylvie had overheard what Reba said. With a subtle arch of her brow, Sylvie offered a faint, inscrutable smile before turning to Jarrod and Maurice beside her. "I'll head inside first."

Her effortless poise made Elodie feel all the more flustered and exposed by contrast.

Elodie could guess exactly what Sylvie was thinking. But honestly, it didn't matter anymore. She was done with Jarrod, anyway. Internal strife solved nothing.

Malcom, too, was visibly unsettled. Elodie's relentless outburst had surely left a sour impression on Mr. Silverstein-how was he supposed to continue the conversation now?

With a heavy sigh, Malcom shook his head, as if wounded by Elodie's behavior. He turned to Jarrod and forced a smile. "Mr. Silverstein, let's reschedule. Next time, you must come over for dinner."

Jarrod said nothing, his expression somber and withdrawn.

Malcom's annoyance with Elodie only deepened. Her tantrum had clearly soured Jarrod's mood! Shooting her a disappointed look, Malcom turned and strode away.

Reba, however, seemed to relish Elodie's discomfort. In her eyes, Sylvie really did have the upper hand-stunning, capable, and the moment she appeared, she'd captured all of Jarrod's attention. How could Elodie hope to compete?

With a mocking snort, Reba turned to leave.

gaze coolly. "Did we resolve things,

patience snapped, her brows furrowing. "Are you ever going to

to keep her emotions in check, her voice icy. "So, you'd rather I

flicker of uncertainty crossed

wrist. Ivan had appeared from nowhere, his expression unreadable, somewhere between amusement and warning.

feel even more suffocated, as if the last taut string inside her might

to pull free.

holding firm. "Reba's my sister

man who once claimed both his sister and the woman he loved belonged solely to Elodie-now he

He'd simply changed sides.

their necks to watch the commotion, eager for

tongue as he walked inside. "Ms. Harcourt knew when to walk away after rejection; it's a shame some

Ivan forced a polite smile.

thought. Elodie, meanwhile, was subdued-she and Ivan had grown up together, and old habits made her instinctively obey when

a

up for Elodie. No one would have