How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 255

Consider it a favor repaid.

Elodie didn't think she was close enough to Joseph to linger any longer. Once they'd cleared things up, she nodded politely and walked away.

Joseph watched her retreating figure for a long moment, her decisiveness leaving him with a complicated feeling as he glanced over at Sylvie.

Warwick Mansion was enormous.

With time to spare, Elodie wandered through the halls, but a chill crept into her hands and feet, leaving her feeling unwell.

She made her way to the restroom.

Standing at the sink, she pressed a hand to her lower abdomen, her brow furrowing as she tried to ease the ache. Over the past weeks, she'd grown more accustomed to enduring this pain. Hiding away for half an hour or so usually allowed her to recover enough to face the world again.

Bracing herself against the countertop, she took several deep, steady breaths.

Only when her phone buzzed with a message from Alexander-asking where she was-did she finally turn to leave.

But the pain had sapped her strength, and as soon as she moved, a wave of dizziness washed over her. Before she could stumble, a firm, warm hand steadied her, the heat of his palm practically searing through her skin.

She looked up.

Jarrod's dark gaze met hers, steady and unreadable.

He studied her, concern knitting his brow. "Period pains? Not feeling well?"

Elodie didn't have a chance to answer.

Down the hallway, Naylor passed by, phone to his ear. Seeing the two of them alone together, he paused mid-sentence. His eyes flicked between Elodie and Jarrod, then, with a curt nod to Jarrod, he strode away, continuing his call.

couldn't care less

years, he'd known her cycle better than anyone-her period, ovulation, every detail. It wasn't surprising he'd remember; he'd always been

arm from his hand with practiced composure. "Thank you," she said

again. "The

period before the

pocket, his expression calm and

slightly, but on second thought, Jarrod was probably even more eager than she was to get this

keep it in

She moved to leave.

the purse she'd left by the sink and called after her, unhurried,

back-he was already holding

hall, Sylvie and Maurice rounded the corner,

Jarrod handing Elodie her

brow creased

hesitated, then muttered under his breath, "You don't think...

It wasn't impossible.

in private? It made sense, considering how much Elodie once cared about

that drama, maybe she was looking for a way

she spent half as much time improving herself as she does chasing after men, Mr. Dale wouldn't have lost

that, she dismissed the scene entirely and

bit his lip his mouth always

Naylor had just finished his

point, he'd seen Sylvie and Maurice approach and then walk away, their expressions dark. So Sylvie had witnessed Elodie and Jarrod together,

what woman would be happy to see another

scowled, finding the

toward the main house, Elodie had to pass through a

step through an archway, she