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?

grandmother. He'd barely ever agreed. Now, he'd

What a cruel joke.

want, but not this time. My grandmother can't stand Sylvie's mother.

down, that even if she refused, Jarrod had a

She couldn't risk it.

let her vulnerability show-something she'd never done in front

studied her for a

cigarette and slipped his hands into his pockets. "Fine.

stared at him, stunned by

then Jarrod asked, "Was the

Finally, she understood.

Mr. Patrick had affected her grandmother, and now the gallery was just another pawn in his game. He'd watched her panic,

think she was the reason

the case, it was clear

It was a personal matter between me and her. There's no way I could influence Mr. Patrick or the government's

knew that was true. He just wanted to make her squirm, to

enough." He scrutinized the redness in her eyes. "Tell me besides Alexander,

surprised by his

technical team is made up of top university

Sylvie was, she

Jarrod understood her meaning.