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

The elevator chimed.

change, Ivan. No one stays stuck in the same

was concerned, she'd let go

wasn't even worthy of being

Ivan's expression darkened.

and grabbed her wrist. "Change? Even now, with the way Jarrod treats you, you still can't leave him. When did you get so willing to swallow your pride? If you weren't just using your

at him, stunned, meeting his almost menacing

when she noticed a group of people

someone in the group, her frown deepening. Did he

free and slipped quickly into

The doors closed.

Ivan frowned, distracted.

someone came up beside

saw Jarrod, followed by Sylvie

entering the elevator. She didn't seem to care, commenting

let the matter with Elodie drop for the moment.

to Jarrod. "I heard you and Mr. Sterling had quite the conversation

been in high demand-everyone wanted to get in with him. VistaLink Technologies was rumored to have

run-in with Elodie, replied with

a