How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 233

Alexander was fuming.

When he'd gone to pick up the cake, the barbecue pit out back had been a riot of laughter and chatter. Jarrod was there, surrounded by Sylvie, Maurice, and the rest, everyone looking like they didn't have a care in the world. Alexander had caught a snippet of gossip from Mr. Black of the Delacroix Group: apparently, Sylvie had spotted fireworks going off by the harbor, got a gleam in her eye, and Jarrod—always the gallant host-had arranged for a full display just for her.

Talk about everyone orbiting their star.

But did Jarrod even remember today was Elodie's birthday?

How could he be out there, playing the attentive boyfriend to another woman on his wife's birthday?

Elodie watched the fireworks blaze across the night sky, their colors reflected like fractured dreams in her eyes. The spectacle on the other side of the window brought back memories she'd shoved into the darkest corners of her mind. The night she was diagnosed-the doctors' faces grave, the world closing in-there'd been fireworks, too, dazzling and surreal. That time, it was Sylvie's birthday. Jarrod had arranged fireworks for her then. And now, on her own birthday, Jarrod was still lighting up the sky... for Sylvie.

Calmly, she drew her gaze away, the fireworks fading from her reflection.

She managed a small, steady smile for Alexander. "It's nothing. Don't waste your energy on things that aren't worth it."

Alexander bristled. He couldn't let it go so easily. With a sharp, bitter laugh, he muttered, “It's just—this is too much. He's not even pretending anymore."

Was even a simple "Happy birthday" too much to ask?

Elodie, unfazed, started gathering her notes for the meeting with the visiting professor. “A birthday isn't roll call. If he's here, he'll want a share of our cake. Frankly, I'd rather eat it ourselves."

Alexander blinked, then let out a reluctant chuckle. "Guess you've got a point."

His spirits lifted a little. Their birthday girl was clear-eyed and untroubled; maybe he could let it go, too.

As Elodie was about to head down the hall with Alexander to meet Professor Sterling, her phone buzzed.

A message from Ivan:

[Come downstairs.]

She frowned.

Another message followed almost instantly:

[I'm outside your hotel.]

wasn't surprised. With all the companies in town for the conference, it wasn't exactly a secret where she was staying. Ivan

had no intention

then her

again, weighing her options-he was already outside, so

is it?"

her expression, Elodie said, "Alex, you

carried the cake to his

to watch the fireworks Jarrod had arranged for his girlfriend,

silent for a moment before his casual drawl came through. "Meet me

minute? Let me help

busy," Elodie

a soft, mocking laugh, pretending not to hear her refusal. "Busy with

faint click of a

Shopping. She's meeting with a wedding dress

the window, her voice honest for once. "Congratulations." There was a pause-he hadn't expected

turned dark. "So I thought I'd swing by and help

set off fireworks for his girlfriend?" Ivan's laugh was cold, his meaning sharp. “Elodie, dodging me right now is all about pride. But you're standing there watching Jarrod fawn over another

hadn't expected Ivan to

Her eyes chilled.

derisive snort, his voice low and burning. "Not even a flicker of anger about Mr. Silverstein? What, you need to see him actually sleep with Sylvie before you'll finally walk

spat out, "Have you no

cutting Ivan out

glacial,

that's my decision, my life. Ivan, you're not even my family by blood anymore. You have no right to judge

didn't even call him "brother." Without another word, she hung

making excuses for Jarrod, but

and headed

energy

motionless

at the carefully wrapped birthday gift