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.

been volatile. Maybe, in that moment, he'd simply misunderstood —maybe old

casually, as if it meant

left Elodie breathless, and bitterly

she was told someone

crying, and threw herself into Ivan's arms. She gently

an arm around her, slipping back into his

Joseph-also sporting a fresh bruise—and Elodie, sitting stiffly

tears again. "Elodie, you're here too? Why didn't you stop your brother? What on earth

Joseph, but couldn't quite piece

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

looked up,

no patience

lips pressed tight, asked quietly,

still seemed composed. He cleared his throat.

nodded, hesitated, then murmured,

what, this was partly her fault. Ivan had only stepped

couldn't shake a lifetime of habit. Seeing her in trouble, Ivan had acted on instinct, not malice. Now, though,

then shook his head. "It's not

natural for Ivan, as her

pockets, 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 as it's cleared up, that's fine. Mr. Harcourt just misunderstood.

Elodie dragged into any

almost mocking glance. "That's right. Elodie's loyal to her husband to the core. She'd probably help serve drinks to his

stung-an open insult, a jab at Elodie's

But she was

but found himself at

had seen how much Elodie had put up with

she'd tolerated from

had even called her "pathetic" more than

blurted out, "Wait, what do

unable to help herself, added, "He doesn't even bother to hide it? He must not care about you at all.