How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 180

Maurice was genuinely surprised.

Elodie was being all businesslike?

Cold, detached, as if they were discussing a merger and not the end of a

marriage.

But that veneer cracked in an instant.

A faint crease appeared between Elodie's brows as she scanned the rest of the agreement. Whatever charitable assumptions she'd made about Jarrod's intentions vanished without a trace.

She'd found the other two conditions.

The first: for one year, she was forbidden from telling Henrietta the truth about the divorce.

The second: unless Jarrod gave explicit permission, she was not allowed to reveal to anyone that they'd been married for three years, nor was she allowed to disclose the exact date of their divorce.

If she broke the terms, Jarrod had the right to defend his reputation and reclaim the house, the shops, the financial settlement-everything he'd promised her. And if she breached the agreement, he could demand "reasonable compensation." The definition of "reasonable" would be up to Jarrod.

Elodie's fingers curled slowly into a fist. She looked up at him across the table.

this mean?" Her voice was cool, but

regarded her with the same practiced indifference. "Which part don't you

tell your grandmother

Jarrod replied, his tone almost gentle. "I hope

in a slow

hint of a smirk. "It's exactly what

almost laughed. She knew perfectly well

their divorce to protect himself. This was

Sylvie had come into the picture, no one could accuse

backward to keep

exhaled, her composure returning. "And

to the terms, this ring goes back to its rightful owner." Jarrod set a delicate, vintage ring

stared at the box. She recognized it instantly-the

would have

to bring Baxter here, to negotiate the return of the ring, had been

wondered if Jarrod had bought the ring for Sylvie at the charity gala simply out of kindness or if he'd planned from the very start to use it as a

would have to play along with Jarrod's charade, surrendering a measure of her freedom. The other condition was even more insidious-a silent pressure, forcing her,

she understood. The generous terms Jarrod had offered weren't out of fairness-they were hush money, insurance to keep

but really, it was all

what's there to hesitate about?" Maurice grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Go on, sign it." He was clearly enjoying the drama, convinced that Elodie was only making trouble to get Jarrod's attention. He wanted to

to sign today. I can negotiate with Mr. Silverstein again, see if we