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."

a special trip across town to queue up at an

out of his car and opened the passenger door for her. He handed her a warm paper bag, the scent of roasted chestnuts wafting up. "Your

lit up.

ruffled her hair, raising an eyebrow with a teasing grin. "No need to thank me. Just keep looking at me—maybe you'll finally develop

but laugh, the kind of laugh that lingered even after the car pulled

watched them drive off, his expression

up some cakes for Freya, but hadn't expected to catch a glimpse of Elodie with Alexander-on what was clearly a personal

like that. It was gentle, soft, and warm, almost affectionate-nothing

Elodie really letting

firsthand how devoted she'd

out his phone, hesitated, then finally sent Jarrod a message: [What's going on between

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

must not have been busy, because he replied quickly: [What do

that Joseph realized what he'd done. Why was he

nothing had changed-same old indifference. Joseph rubbed his

He didn't elaborate.

Jarrod didn't seem interested. He didn't ask for details. He didn't reply at all. Joseph shook

for the 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

Elodie. How had things gotten to this point? Was it some innate