How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 124

Elodie's brows drew together, her heart skipping a beat. "Why?"

"You know better than I do. There are things you shouldn't do I hope you won't."

With that, Jarrod ended the call.

Elodie sat, stunned, for a long moment.

Gradually, the meaning behind his words dawned on her.

Jarrod... he must have figured out what she intended to do.

He knew she wanted to bring the long-buried truth to light, to use her mother's painting to shatter the honor Selma had gained.

He wouldn't allow her to hurt Sylvie's mother.

He wouldn't allow Selma's reputation to be ruined at Sylvie's expense.

Suddenly, everything became painfully clear: Jarrod was protecting Sylvie. Even knowing Selma had stepped on her mother's legacy to rise, he didn't care.

Elodie's fingers curled tightly around themselves as she stared at the hard-won painting on her desk. The gratitude and surprise she'd felt moments ago had turned into a slap in the face, leaving her painfully clearheaded.

She gave herself just two minutes to accept the truth.

the past was a luxury

when Alexander strode into her office. His eyes landed on

paused, wary. "What do you

it carefully. "No mistake-it's this one. A friend of mine from an auction house overseas told me about it. Just two days ago, a mysterious billionaire spent eight

Elodie froze.

Eight million?

nodded, still marveling. "The opening bid was only one hundred and fifty thousand. A Middle Eastern prince wanted it too-you know, the kind who spends money like it's

painting that started at one hundred and fifty thousand,

was the talk of the art

for the super-rich,

the buyer had made it clear-no matter what, he'd get that painting, price be

Elodie was taken aback.

kept his promises, but she hadn't expected he'd spend eight

what was

her head, Elodie forced herself to focus. Right now, the real problem was that Jarrod refused to let her use her mother's painting

Elodie's divorce, Rosemary began urging

rented place

her health was unstable, and the side effects from her medication were unpredictable. Living together would only risk her

Friday.

after a trip out. "Good news-are