How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 133

Elodie barely had time to react. One hand pressed to her waist, she looked up in stunned confusion.

Joseph's lips were split and bleeding, his handsome face darkened with anger.

Across from them, Ivan's eyes flashed coldly, his sharp features twisted in a sneer. Without warning, he strode forward and grabbed Joseph by the collar. "What the hell are you doing with her? Do you have any idea who she is? Or do you just not care?"

Joseph had never been humiliated like this. He responded with a punch of his

own.

"Show some respect to me and Ms. Thorne!"

Ivan licked the blood from his own lip and laughed icily, lunging again.

Respect? After what he'd just seen?

Joseph's ears were burning red.

It looked like the two of them were about to come to blows. Elodie, pale, moved quickly between them. "Ivan! Stop it!"

Ivan paused, turning back to look at Elodie with a mocking smirk. "So, what, you're fine with this?"

He curled his lip, clicking his tongue. "You could've just said so. Elodie, you've got some nerve. Guess you don't mind sampling what's right under your nose. Aren't you worried your darling husband and his good buddy might swap notes about you behind closed doors..."

Elodie's face went sheet-white. Her jaw trembled with shock-it was almost impossible to believe Ivan would say something so vile.

Crack!

Joseph landed another punch. "Mr. Harcourt, don't you dare insult her like that." Ivan, now noticeably hurting, scowled and seemed ready to explode-

But then the wail of police sirens cut through the tension.

Sitting in the police station, Elodie's head throbbed. She looked even colder than usual, her expression stony.

he'd simply misunderstood —maybe old habits of brotherly protectiveness had kicked in. But the things he'd

casually, as if it meant

breathless, and bitterly

giving her statement, she was told someone needed

herself into Ivan's arms. She gently touched his split lip. "What happened? Why were

around her, slipping back into his usual nonchalance. "It's

looked around the room and spotted Joseph-also sporting a fresh bruise—and Elodie, sitting stiffly on

with tears again. "Elodie, you're here too? Why

Joseph, but couldn't quite piece

crowd, even if people weren't close, it was rare

looked up, her

no patience left

Elodie walked over to Joseph and, lips pressed tight, asked quietly, "Did you

rattled she was, though she still seemed composed. He cleared his throat.

nodded, hesitated, then murmured,

was partly her fault. Ivan had only stepped

tense between her and Ivan lately, she couldn't shake a lifetime of habit. Seeing her in trouble, Ivan had acted on instinct, not malice.

gaze, then shook his head.

was only natural for Ivan, as her brother,

voice rough with apology. "Mr. Delacroix, this was all a misunderstanding. Hope it's not a big deal. Let's grab dinner sometime-I owe you a proper apology." Joseph wasn't one to hold grudges. In business, it was always wise to leave things on good terms. "As long

dragged into any more

to her husband to the core. She'd probably help serve drinks to his

stung-an open insult,

But she was too

to protest, but found himself at a loss

and everyone else, had seen how much Elodie

much she'd

called her "pathetic" more

oblivious to the details, blurted out, "Wait, what do you mean? Elodie, is your husband

bother to hide it? He must not care about you at all. No wonder you never had