How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Calmly, she said, "I lost it."

Only then did Ivan really look at her. Noticing she showed no real emotion, he finally spoke. "If it's lost, it's lost. I'll just buy you another one."

Elodie froze for a second. "That's not necessary. I don't need it."

Pretending it didn't sting her pride was a lie. Since when had Ivan learned to humiliate her like this?

He was never short of money for jewelry, but he'd still given her a free promotional trinket as if she wouldn't notice.

Ivan narrowed his eyes. The only reason he'd bothered with the diamond necklace in the first place was to smooth things over after he'd let her down a few days back. He figured a little sweet talk and a gift would settle it.

But Elodie's stubborn refusal was starting to grate on his nerves.

"When did you become so careless?" he challenged. "Anything I've ever given you, you always took good care of. Elodie, if you want something else, just say so. There's no need for this little act."

He didn't believe for a second that Elodie had really lost it.

She'd always cherished his gifts-no matter how cheap or ordinary, she'd never once turned up her nose at them.

Elodie couldn't refute him. In fact, his words jabbed at her like a thorn, piercing through the illusion of happy memories to the painful truth underneath.

She had treasured their relationship-whether it was the bond they'd shared growing up, or the innocent affection she'd once felt.

him to treat her as if she were beneath him. As if she deserved

The elevator chimed.

her head, glancing at him. "People do change, Ivan. No one

was concerned, she'd

even worthy of being called

Ivan's expression darkened.

get so willing to swallow your pride? If you weren't just using your marriage with him

at him, stunned, meeting

she

with someone in the group, her

free and slipped

The doors closed.

Ivan frowned, distracted.

later, someone came

saw Jarrod, followed by Sylvie and Maurice, who had just caught

only glimpsed Elodie's retreating figure entering the elevator. She didn't seem

let the matter with Elodie drop for the

his attention to Jarrod. "I heard you and

with him.

Elodie, replied with a shrug, "We just had dinner together,

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