How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 125

Elodie stared at Joseph, surprised, while he seemed just as taken aback by their brief touch. For a moment, neither seemed to know quite what to say.

She instinctively drew back her hand, taking her notebook with her, and her gaze turned frosty and distant. "Thank you," she said curtly.

Joseph pressed his lips together, unable to ignore her coldness and the way she treated him like someone to be avoided at all costs. "Well, what a coincidence," he managed, trying to sound casual. "Didn't expect to see you at the defense expo."

Elodie tucked her notebook away and nodded. "Yeah. I came with Alex."

"Alex...?" There was a subtle shift in Joseph's expression, a flicker of something darker. She called Alexander by his first name-so familiar?

Elodie didn't notice his reaction. "See you later," she said, giving a polite nod before heading off to catch up with Alexander.

Joseph watched her retreat, lost in thought.

Across the parking lot, Sylvie had witnessed the whole exchange. She'd seen Joseph help Elodie pick up her things, and for a second, it looked like Elodie had even held his hand.

She frowned. Was she just reading too much into it?

Grady and Naylor approached, having just stepped out of their own car. Grady, ever attentive, shot her a

Grady, then nodded a greeting at Naylor. "It's nothing. Just ran into someone I didn't expect

and, on rare occasions like today, senior executives from partner companies. If it weren't for the

clearance.

managed to get in. Sylvie truly didn't understand

was it?" Grady asked, curiosity

strolled over to Joseph. "Mr. Delacroix,

gaze followed Joseph, eyes clouded

shrugged off the attention. "Nothing. We should

it go, but Sylvie lingered, moving closer to Joseph and lowering

of Elodie's chilly demeanor-she hadn't wanted a conversation

of his nose. "We don't really talk. There's nothing between

It made sense. Joseph had never thought much of Elodie; there was no way he'd go out of his way

in his mid-thirties— Patrick, one of the senior doctoral students at the institute and now a leading figure in aerospace engineering. Elodie had worked

on

"Elodie! You're finally back! Do you know how long it's been? After you left, the professor took out all his frustration on us. You wouldn't