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.

simply misunderstood —maybe old habits of brotherly

as if it meant

breathless, and

she was told someone

and threw herself into Ivan's arms.

slipping back

the room and spotted Joseph-also sporting a fresh

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

knew Joseph, but couldn't quite piece things

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

looked up, her

she had no patience left for

lips pressed tight, asked quietly, "Did you call

still seemed composed. He cleared his throat. "Yeah.

then murmured,

partly her fault. Ivan had only stepped in

shake a lifetime of habit. Seeing her in

her gaze, then shook his head.

for Ivan, as her brother, to

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.

Elodie dragged

loyal to her husband to the core. She'd probably

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

But she was too exhausted to

about to protest, but found

much Elodie had put up

much she'd

had even called her "pathetic" more

blurted out, "Wait, what do you mean? Elodie, is

pity and, unable to help herself, added, "He doesn't even bother to hide it? He must not care about you at all. No wonder you never had kids... was that