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?

she'd pleaded for him to visit her uncle and grandmother. He'd barely ever agreed. Now, he'd come

What a cruel joke.

back a bitter laugh and kept her voice steady. "Jarrod, I know you always 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...

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

She couldn't risk it.

she let her vulnerability show-something she'd

her for a long moment, lost

his hands into

him, stunned by his unexpected

the

Finally, she understood.

just another pawn in his game. He'd watched her panic, watched her lower herself to beg—and all

she was the

it was clear where his

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

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

me besides Alexander, does

frowned, surprised by

made up of top university graduates,"

brilliant Sylvie was, she wasn't the only talent

Jarrod understood her meaning.