How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 404

Jarrod had clearly anticipated Elodie's request even before she voiced it.

He listened to her quietly, waiting a few moments before responding, his tone measured and calm. "Aside from that, you can ask for whatever you want."

A faint trace of irony curled at the edge of Elodie's lips. "That's all I want."

A silent standoff began, the tension so sharp that it prickled even across the phone line.

"The painting isn't in my possession," Jarrod said, his voice steady and unhurried. "And I can say for certain it's not with Sylvie or her people either. It was never mine to begin with, so I can't make that call."

The message was clear.

Elodie frowned, thinking back. Sylvie had fought her for that painting, making it clear she wanted to buy it back and give it to Selma. So why wouldn't they have it now? Had they sold it again?

She knew Jarrod well enough-he could be cold, but he rarely bothered to lie. If he or Sylvie had the painting, he'd simply tell her "no" or "that's not possible."

But now, her suspicions undeterred, Elodie pressed on. "Even if you did have it, you'd do whatever you could to protect their reputation."

Jarrod didn't respond.

hadn't expected him

his tone almost indifferent. "I can't promise you that. And you know exactly what Nexus Analytics means for both you and VistaLink Technologies. You're not going to walk away from it. If you want VistaLink to thrive, you need to strengthen your core tech as soon as possible. Leveraging this opportunity is the

hope you make the

out

stood silent for a moment, brow furrowed, turning over in her head how to break this

She needed to seize every opportunity, every opening. Nexus Analytics was the best

the score. Even if she got her hands on it, if Jarrod wanted to protect Selma,

wasn't

still have a chance to track it down herself. She'd just have to find another way to settle this score in fact, the painting being out of Jarrod and Sylvie's hands might just be a blessing-it meant fewer obstacles in the open, and more room for

on problems she couldn't solve right away. She cut straight to the point

ve

happened recently. I

too."

agreed without hesitation this

want fifty, ask for a hundred-then settle for fifty, and it's an easy

painting was a lost cause. Even if Jarrod had it, he'd never hand it over easily. But now, with a public apology from Sylvie on the table, Jarrod had no

Jarrod stayed quiet too, as if patiently waiting