How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

It was obvious now-Jarrod and his group had come out here to celebrate New Year's Eve with Joseph.

Elodie finally understood why Jarrod had turned down his grandmother's

suggestion to come out for the festivities together. He'd already made plans with Sylvie.

Sylvie, in Jarrod's eyes, was always his top priority.

No one understood this better than Elodie.

Alexander could hear the edge in Octavia's voice, but he simply glanced over at Jarrod. "Mr. Silverstein, what a coincidence. We're here for a team retreat, and you all happened to pick the same spot."

His tone was light-making it clear that Elodie hadn't crashed their plans on purpose.

After all, this was their company outing. It was pure chance the groups had run into each other. Was Elodie really to blame?

Jarrod looked up. "We decided to come last minute, actually. Really is quite the coincidence."

"Who knows if Elodie didn't just drag everyone here as an excuse..." Octavia muttered.

Maurice let out a short laugh. "Easy, sis. You're being a bit too sharp-you'll leave everyone with no way to save face."

exactly buy

She greeted Alexander with cool composure, "Mr. Sterling, fancy

her signature graceful smile. Yet behind that warmth was a pride that was impossible to

years of navigating high society, had no intention of causing a public scene. He simply returned her greeting with a polite, insincere smile. "Ms. Fielding, with the people you have backing you, I imagine we'll be

understanding his implication. Still, she saw no need to argue. She was certain her own accomplishments would change his

from the drama-stood

bother responding to Octavia, but instead turned to Alexander. "Did we reserve a spot

that Esmeralda had handled all the arrangements.

barbs, only

"Hey, come join us! There's loads of space here—we

Elodie hesitated.

an eyebrow, watching her with a

other woman, and a crowd of friends and family all rooting for the mistress's rise...

was, Elodie hadn't wanted to join them for dinner at all when she

was already dashing over, grabbing her hand. "Come on,

Elodie could protest, Freya had guided

arrangement was awkward-she found herself sitting directly across from Jarrod, their eyes likely to meet at

end, decided