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 protectiveness had kicked

as

left Elodie breathless, and bitterly

giving her statement, she was told someone needed to come

rushed in, eyes red from crying, and threw herself into Ivan's arms. She gently touched

around her, slipping back

sporting a fresh bruise—and Elodie, sitting stiffly

you're here too? Why didn't you stop your brother? What

but couldn't

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

up, her face

no patience left

walked over to Joseph and, lips pressed tight,

noticed how rattled she was, though she still seemed composed. He cleared his throat. "Yeah. Maurice is on his

nodded, hesitated, then murmured,

this was partly her fault. Ivan had

habit. Seeing her in trouble, Ivan had acted on instinct, not malice. Now, though, things

shook his head. "It's

natural for Ivan, as her brother, to be

finished soothing Queenie, approached, hands in his 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

want Elodie dragged into

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

stung-an open insult, a jab

bloodless. But she

protest, but found himself at a

much Elodie had put up with over

she'd tolerated

her "pathetic" more

out, "Wait, what do you mean? Elodie, is your husband

of pity and, unable to help herself, added, "He doesn't even bother to hide it? He must not care about