How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 108

As for Mrs. Silverstein's status-

Jarrod had never acknowledged anything, so Elodie certainly wasn't.

Esmeralda felt the day had been a total bust. She suggested they go out for drinks and karaoke-something Elodie used to do all the time as part of her old PR gig. But now, with her health issues, Elodie did her best to avoid alcohol.

Besides, whatever was going on with Jarrod didn't really affect her as much anymore. Things hadn't reached the point where she needed to drown her sorrows in whiskey.

So Esmeralda made plans with other friends, and Elodie drove herself home.

On the way, Alexander called. He asked, in his usual no-nonsense way, how things were going at the gallery. Elodie answered with a vague, noncommittal reply.

"Come over for dinner tomorrow," Alexander said. "Dad's got the day off, and you know how he is-strike while the iron's hot and keep the old man in good spirits."

Elodie considered it. There were still a few challenges with her new project, and she could use Professor Charlie's advice. She agreed.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow," Alexander said.

Elodie replied, "Alright. See you then."

queue up at an old, family-run bakery. She wanted

and opened the passenger door for her. He handed her a warm paper

lit up. "Thanks,

hair, raising an eyebrow with a teasing grin. "No need to thank me. Just keep looking at me—maybe

couldn't help but laugh, the kind of laugh that lingered even

a Bentley's window rolled down. Joseph watched them drive off, his expression caught somewhere between surprise and something more

expected to

seen her smile at anyone like that. It was gentle, soft, and warm, almost affectionate-nothing like the polite smiles

Elodie really letting go

Maurice had watched firsthand how devoted she'd been to

finally sent Jarrod a message: [What's going

was planning on getting a divorce, Joseph couldn't imagine why Elodie would be spending time

been busy, because he

was only then that Joseph realized what he'd done.

rubbed his brow, then typed: [Never

He didn't elaborate.

ask for details. He

first year of marriage-when things had at least been civil-Jarrod had only grown colder and more distant toward Elodie. That was why, eventually, both Maurice and Joseph had started to lose respect for her too. They'd simply taken their cue from

Joseph found himself wondering. Jarrod hadn't always seemed so fed up with Elodie. How had things gotten to this point? Was