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.

always been volatile. Maybe, in that moment, he'd simply misunderstood —maybe old habits of brotherly protectiveness had

casually, as if it

left Elodie breathless, and bitterly

giving her statement, she was told someone

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

slipping back into

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

eyes filled with tears again. "Elodie, you're here too? Why didn't you stop your

knew Joseph, but couldn't quite piece things

crowd, even if people weren't close, it

up, her

she had no patience left for

lips

how rattled she was, though she still seemed composed. He cleared

then murmured,

this was partly her fault.

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

gaze, then shook

it was only natural for Ivan, as her brother, to be overly

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

didn't want Elodie dragged into any more

Elodie a sly, almost mocking glance. "That's right. Elodie's loyal to her husband to the core.

words stung-an open insult, a jab at

went bloodless. But she

but found himself at a loss for

seen how much Elodie had

how much she'd

called her "pathetic" more than

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

"He doesn't even bother to hide