How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 457

Elodie hadn't expected this.

A flicker of disbelief passed through her eyes, edged with a trace of dark amusement.

So now she was supposed to step in, clear Sylvie's name, and quiet down all the rumors that had erupted?

Lucinda clearly saw what Elodie was thinking, but her voice remained measured. "That's not what I'm asking. This isn't about helping Sylvie-it's about helping Jarrod. He's your husband, after all. Even if most people are ready to believe Sylvie's just an ambitious woman who failed to climb higher, there will still be whispers, doubts that could harm his reputation. You've worked in PR. You know how to solve this with minimal fuss, don't you?"

Even if only a fraction of those rumors stuck, it could stain Jarrod's name.

And Lucinda had no intention of letting Jarrod's reputation suffer, not even a little. Besides, as Mrs. Silverstein, Elodie had an obligation to protect Jarrod's interests. Wasn't it only sensible to look at the bigger picture?

Elodie stared at Lucinda, her expression composed.

It was so clear now: Lucinda was the kind of person who weighed everything against self-interest.

The cost of that interest? Elodie was expected to pay it. Even Lucinda had to know how cold-blooded her request sounded.

Elodie let out a slow breath before she looked Lucinda in the eye, her voice cool and even. "With all due respect, the one who started this mess—the one who's threatening the Silverstein family's reputation and Jarrod's own isn't me. If you want it dealt with, talk to the people actually responsible. Or maybe, just maybe, you should have warned them not to do it in the first place. Don't come to me, expecting me to be the sacrificial lamb in all of this."

words were blunt, stripped of

be, cutting straight to

time, she would have bitten her tongue-out of respect, if nothing else, because Lucinda was her mother-in-law. But now? What did it matter? Wasn't

was caught off

face-so different from the

her tone civil but firm. "You're welcome to finish your tea before you

walked over

one to force her way when she was unwelcome. So she rose, gave Elodie

door closed behind Lucinda, Elodie's eyes grew cold.

her contacts, searching for a while before dialing

male voice came

didn't ask why she was calling; he already knew. Elodie never called unless

and Sylvie have made, that's your problem. Don't drag me into it. Your mothe just came to

spell it out.

seconds.

word, Elodie ended

answer she needed, and

mind almost immediately. She had