How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 162

Even though she said all the right things, her eyes never left Elodie, making her intentions perfectly clear-she wanted Elodie to step aside.

Esmeralda wasn't having any of it. She frowned and stood up, arms crossed. "Ms. Jett, if you have something to say, why not just come out with it?"

It couldn't be more obvious—they were all determined to prop up Sylvie. And why? Wasn't it just because Sylvie had Jarrod's backing? If not for him, she'd be nothing but the other woman. What was so special about her?

Queenie hadn't expected Esmeralda to be so blunt and unyielding. For a moment, she looked displeased.

Maurice, biting into an apple, chuckled. "Come on, Ms. Thorne, is it really worth it? Sylvie likes that ring, and suddenly you want it too. She wants to play the piano, and next thing we know, you're signing up for lessons?"

As far as he was concerned, Elodie must have only chosen to perform on the piano after learning Sylvie would be doing the same. It was as if she was determined to go head-to-head with her; as if she was dying to steal Sylvie's spotlight-just to catch Jarrod's attention.

Grady frowned too, thinking Elodie was in way over her head. "Do you even know what Ms. Fielding is capable of? She got her advanced certificate last year and even won an award in competition. This isn't some kids' music class where you can get by playing 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.""

If she had any sense, she'd back down now.

At that moment, Jarrod cast a glance across the room-cool, unreadable.

the detached aristocrat, as if none of this mattered to him. But there was something in his eyes-a hint of amusement,

a husband gives when he's quietly

pressed her lips

the only one who can earn an advanced certificate, and no one else? Elodie passed

hung

laugh, her composure unshaken. She looked Elodie up and down, as

at twelve? How come she'd never heard of it? If Elodie was so good, why had she never shown it? Was it because she didn't

doubting. Maurice and Grady

stayed silent, studying Elodie with a thoughtful, inscrutable gaze. There

phone with his thumb. The others might not know,

stayed calm and poised. "Since there's a conflict, let's get to the point-how are we choosing who performs? What are

the heart

Jarrod. No one would say it out loud, of

watched the whole scene unfold, turning a glass of wine in

one who's always got a move up her sleeve. Funny, isn't it? She knows all

on the elegant line of Elodie's neck. Even now, faced with this,