How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 281

Sylvie finally paused, a reluctant sigh escaping her lips. "It was because of me. Jarrod got hurt trying to help."

Ivan looked at her in surprise. "A real knight in shining armor, huh?"

Sylvie only smiled faintly, saying nothing more.

Jarrod lifted his glass toward Ivan in a casual salute. "I haven't had the chance yet -congratulations, Mr. Harcourt, on your engagement."

Ivan's smile was wry but genuine. "Thank you, Mr. Silverstein. I'd say you're not doing too badly yourself."

He shot a pointed look at Sylvie, eyebrow arched in teasing challenge.

Jarrod just gave a lopsided, indifferent smile and let the comment slide.

As he glanced up, something across the room caught his eye. The music was winding down, and Elodie was just finishing a dance in the center of the ballroom.

Her partner, every bit the gentleman, walked her back to her seat with a courtly bow.

It had been years since Elodie had danced like this, and with her health still not back to normal, she was more tired than she cared to admit.

Watts hesitated, then introduced himself with a polite earnestness. "I'm Watts. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Elodie sized up the young man-he couldn't have been much older than twenty- two or twenty-three.

composed.

lingering would be awkward, simply offered a courteous greeting to Alexander and Esmeralda, then

he left than Esmeralda leaned in, eyes sparkling. "Ten out

good looks... Isn't that what they

"Young, fresh,

grinned. "Definitely worth

just stared

or two younger than her, and the way he'd personally

manners.

off as a joke, about to respond, when she felt someone watching her. She paused, glancing

way, his expression unreadable,

Watts walking her back

eyes met, Jarrod's lips curled in

closer to Sylvie, resuming

was that supposed to

Whatever. Not her problem.

water, then glanced at her two friends, who were still snickering. "Aren't you

had no intention of playing along with their

to

a casual celebration-everyone was