How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 158

Ivan immediately let go and smiled. "Why didn't you tell me in advance? I could've come to pick you up."

Queenie finally broke into a grin, walked over, and wrapped her arms around his waist, nestling against his chest. Her voice was soft and teasing. "I didn't want you to wear yourself out. You kept me up half the night, remember?"

Elodie lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable.

The possessive undertone in Queenie's words didn't stir any emotion in her- none at all. She was just an onlooker in this story.

Queenie, however, turned her attention to Elodie and smiled. "Can you stay a bit longer tonight? We're having a feast, and we need you here."

Elodie met her gaze, her voice even. "What's on the menu?"

Queenie winked mischievously. "You'll see soon enough."

She left it at that, then playfully tugged Ivan toward the other side of the room. "My dad just arrived. Come say hi."

Ivan slipped an arm around her waist and didn't refuse. As he walked away, though, he shot Elodie a glance-its meaning impossible to decipher.

Elodie didn't dwell on it.

When Esmeralda returned, she shook her head. "No luck. This Fergus is a real mystery."

"Let's go grab our seats

in the second row. As

Elodie glanced up.

Sylvie were settling into the prime seats at the

pecking order at events

Still, from where she sat, every time she looked

Jarrod and Sylvie were the first

she glanced up, Sylvie was leaning in close, whispering something to Jarrod, who would bend

his eyes warm and attentive

expression remained calm as she looked past them to the

gritted her teeth. "Is this their little love show? Should we just wheel a bed out for them

gentle

felt nothing extra-no

two hundred high-profile guests in attendance. Every item up for auction had been donated by celebrities or major organizations, and all proceeds would go to

a

her part for charity, too. If something caught her eye,

rolled out,

seat, she watched as Jarrod handed his

shots tonight-he'd buy whatever she fancied,

bright smile and didn't hold back, raising it