How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

When Elodie arrived, she found Jarrod standing beneath the covered walkway of the nursing home, cigarette in hand. He looked tall and composed, an imposing figure with a chill about him that kept people at a distance.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, and her expression was anything but calm.

Jarrod, always calculating, never wasted words. He was threatening her with her uncle to force her hand—nothing more, nothing less.

She walked up to him. "Can we talk?"

Jarrod turned slowly, regarding her with a cool gaze. "Why are you so nervous?"

The question hit her like a slap.

Elodie knew times had changed; she couldn't afford to be defiant anymore. She softened her voice. "My mother dedicated her whole life to art. She and Selma always had their differences. No matter what, the gallery can't be sold. Can't you just let this go...?"

She was out of breath, probably from running.

Her words came out in shaky bursts.

Jarrod just looked at her, unmoved. "Her mother loved that place."

His tone made it clear-he wasn't going to give in.

He was willing to let the Thorne family be insulted, all to please Sylvie's mother?

to visit her uncle and grandmother. He'd barely

What a cruel joke.

get what you want, but not this time. My grandmother can't stand Sylvie's mother. If she finds out Selma is the buyer, it will devastate her. Please... for the

down, that even if she refused, Jarrod had a thousand ways to

She couldn't risk it.

show-something she'd

for a long moment, lost in

and slipped his hands into his pockets. "Fine. The gallery

stunned by

asked, "Was the situation with Mr. Patrick

Finally, she understood.

wasn't mercy at all. The fallout with Mr. Patrick had affected her grandmother, and now the gallery was just another pawn in his game. He'd watched her panic, watched her lower herself

he think she was the reason his precious Sylvie lost

was clear where his loyalties

a personal matter between me and her. There's no way

squirm, to defend Sylvie's wounded pride by putting Elodie

He scrutinized the redness in her eyes. "Tell me besides Alexander, does VistaLink Technologies have

frowned, surprised

team is made up of top university graduates," she replied

was, she wasn't the only talent in

Jarrod understood her meaning.