How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 284

Elodie could feel the strength in the hand gripping her wrist-there was a

forcefulness beneath Jarrod's calm, almost teasing voice, a quiet dominance she

could not ignore.

She hated it.

Her reaction was even sharper than before. With a sudden jerk, she yanked her wrist free, shaking off the lingering heat of his touch. Not bothering with subtlety, she pulled off her blindfold and met Jarrod's cool, inscrutable gaze.

"This is how it's always been between us in public, isn't it?" Elodie's words were polite but her eyes betrayed a flicker of annoyance she struggled to hide. "Mr. Silverstein, we have no chemistry. Let's just drop this game."

Jarrod's expression didn't register a single emotion. Elodie didn't care. She turned on her heel and walked away, moving toward the edge of the crowd.

As for Jarrod's question—she almost wanted to laugh. For years, whenever they crossed paths in public, he'd acted as though she didn't exist: distant, aloof, a stranger in every sense. Now he dared to put the ball in her court? Please.

exactly what the contract spelled

away. Then he turned

had been keeping an eye on Elodie throughout, noticed both she and Jarrod had separated. He lowered his gaze, deep in thought, then started to cross the room toward her. He still hadn't asked

urgent call. He glanced at Elodie, who had just taken a seat, her profile lit by the soft glow of the

when Alexander leaned over, voice low. "What did he say to

sharp for a moment, but she shook her

deeply he might wound someone; it meant nothing to

laugh. "Of course. Letting us take the fall and not even owning up to it. Cold-blooded,

it well, but there was no denying the

more. She was about to check the time when Ivan's voice rang out from the front of

all for taking time out of your busy schedules to celebrate Queenie and me tonight," Ivan announced, standing tall and relaxed, voice carrying easily over the crowd. "While you're all having a good time, we'd like to share a

that of

smile slow and easy. "Queenie's pregnant. So today,