How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 119

She never finished her sentence.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded at the doorway.

A low, cool male voice cut through the room. "I'm not late, am I? Darling?"

Elodie's words were snatched from her lips.

She whipped around, stunned, half-convinced she must have misheard.

Everyone else in the room looked over, just as surprised.

Jarrod strode in, calm and assured.

Seeing him, Ivan's brows knit in surprise. He hadn't expected Jarrod to give Elodie such respect-calling her "darling" in front of everyone.

But then again, Ivan realized, today it was just the Thornes-no outsiders, no need to keep up appearances. Jarrod could afford the pretense of

acknowledgment. If even one unknowing guest were present, Elodie would never hear such a word from him.

Tall and impeccably dressed in a black suit, Jarrod crossed the room. He glanced at Elodie, then nodded politely to Rosemary. "Business kept me for a while," he said, voice even. "My apologies, Grandma."

Elodie's expression cooled.

casual "darling" had almost cracked her composure. The shock she felt at the

Willing to go

years of marriage, he'd never once

that Jarrod was with Selma and Sylvie today. Why had he shown up

It was plain black, not the red-patterned one Sylvie

this made sense. Her

rested on her, his tone casual. "What's the

Rosemary and the

"Work."

let it drop. It wasn't

to press further. She simply waved a hand. "You're here, that's what matters. Let's

following the ritual with practiced

word "darling," nudged Alexander, bewildered. "What's going on? Aren't they already divorced? He hasn't even

way, since

Elodie to get a rabies

By rights, Jarrod should have been spending

fireworks show-the real highlight-wasn't until tonight. That would leave him free

thought-Elodie wondered the same. The third anniversary memorial would wrap up before noon; she figured Jarrod would leave as soon as the ritual was over.

playing dumb, but a faint smile touched his lips as he greeted Jarrod. "I thought Mr. Silverstein might be too busy today

had