How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 286

Naylor's comment landed out of nowhere, catching everyone off guard.

Even Sylvie couldn't help but glance over.

She instinctively shot a look at Jarrod, but he seemed completely unfazed, as if the conversation had nothing to do with him. "Mr. Whitaker is free to ask Ms. Thorne herself," he replied coolly.

Naylor just raised his glass with a laugh. "Oh, Mr. Silverstein, you're joking. We've barely spoken two words to each other."

Jarrod didn't bother to respond.

He clinked glasses with Naylor with a kind of effortless poise, making it clear he had no interest in discussing anything related to Elodie.

Sylvie arched an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at her lips-just as she'd expected.

Meanwhile, Ivan had just heard that Elodie had left.

He stood in place for a moment, stunned, then fished out a cigarette. "Got it," he muttered.

He gazed out at the dark, endless stretch of ocean, smoke curling from his lips as silence settled in. Five or six cigarette butts soon littered the deck around his feet.

Elodie really was something else.

She'd made it through the entire night without exchanging a single word with him.

Not a hint of complaint about his engagement.

No scenes, no drama-nothing at all.

He had no idea how long he'd been standing there when someone finally came to fetch him. Apparently Queenie was looking for him.

Ivan stubbed out his last cigarette with the toe of his shoe, his face icy as he headed back to the main deck.

Watts arrived upstairs just in time to realize Elodie was already gone.

He asked a server about her, only to find out she'd left earlier.

Leaning against the railing, phone in hand, he wasn't too bothered. They hadn't exchanged numbers, hadn't even properly introduced themselves, but if fate wanted, opportunities would come again.

His gaze drifted to where Alexander was chatting with someone nearby. A plan formed.

over

but thanks to Watts's earlier friendliness toward

Technologies's Mr. Sterling and your impressive reputation. Glad to finally

eyebrow. "Of

they added each other on LinkedIn, Watts was just about to ask if Alexander could introduce him

the

said, having caught sight of

Jarrod glanced at Watts.

Sylvie sized him up for

With practiced ease, he said, “Actually, I was just about

to know who Watts was, and

coolly. "That's

Watts's smooth, diplomatic move, paused thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on his face. She was already

she took

back to the nearest harbor on

to take her back into

at VistaLink Technologies for work and

party, met a bunch of industry folks, and actually made out pretty

miserable she looked, made her a cup of honey

yacht. Lucky you left early-lying

and gestured toward the honey water. "Want

himself to a cup, then tossed his phone to Esmeralda. "I can barely look at a screen right now. Contact Mr. Ableson for me, will you? We're visiting his

dragged herself up to

Mr. Ableson, she absentmindedly started scrolling through her feed,

frowning. "Wait-Sylvie and Jarrod shared a room

Elodie glanced up.

screen for her to see. "Sylvie posted

the suite's window view. Reflected in the glass, Jarrod

the couch behind

drink at midnight with someone who makes you feel at ease. Maybe

two in

woman. Alone in a room. In

weren't even bothering to hide it

It was the first time she'd seen Sylvie openly acknowledge they'd spent the

time already!" Esmeralda scoffed. "You think