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.

of that was a reason for him to treat her as

The elevator chimed.

"People do change, Ivan. No

far as Ivan was concerned, she'd let go

worthy of

Ivan's expression darkened.

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

him, stunned, meeting his almost

was about to pull away when she noticed a group of people approaching behind

in the group, her

closer, Elodie wrenched free and slipped

The doors closed.

Ivan frowned, distracted.

moment later, someone came up beside

Sylvie and Maurice, who had just caught

the confrontation, only glimpsed Elodie's retreating figure entering the elevator. She didn't seem to care, commenting instead, "Mr. Harcourt, where's

with Elodie drop for the moment. "She

heard you and

in with him. VistaLink Technologies was rumored to have something

with Elodie, replied with

knows VistaLink Technologies is about to launch a major project. Mr. Silverstein, you must be making