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.

what to make of it. He looked every bit the detached aristocrat, as if none of this mattered to

look a husband gives

her lips

folded. "So she's the only one who can earn an advanced certificate, and no one else? Elodie passed hers at twelve. She's a

hung in the

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

heard of it? If Elodie was so good, why had she never shown it? Was it because she didn't want

Sylvie doubting. Maurice and Grady were both shaking

thoughtful, inscrutable gaze. There

at Elodie and lowered his eyes, absently tracing his phone with his thumb. The others might not know, but he did. Elodie really had passed her certificate at twelve. He'd been

poised. "Since there's a conflict, let's get to the point-how are we choosing

cut straight to the heart of

favored Sylvie only because of Jarrod.

a glass of wine in his hand. His dark, striking

I told you about last time-the one who's always got a move up her sleeve. Funny, isn't it? She knows all about Sylvie and Jarrod, but pretends she doesn't

of Elodie's neck. Even now, faced with this, she