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 out? Boundaries, distance, and nothing

his face giving nothing away. Then he turned and

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 for

Elodie, who had just taken a seat, her profile lit by the soft glow of the

settled in when Alexander leaned over, voice low.

for a moment, but

figured. Jarrod never explained himself, no matter how deeply he might wound someone; it meant nothing to

sip of his drink and gave a cold, derisive laugh. "Of course. Letting us

well, but there was no

time when Ivan's voice rang out

schedules to celebrate Queenie and me tonight," Ivan announced, standing tall and relaxed, voice

her expression that of any

close, his smile slow and easy. "Queenie's pregnant. So today, we have double