How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 673

Elodie quickly grasped the situation.

Something was obviously off.

Getting caught coming out of the same room together-there was no way that wouldn't look suspicious.

Patricia swept toward them, narrowing her eyes at Ivan. "Mr. Harcourt, was there really anything you couldn't discuss outside? What exactly were you doing bringing Elodie into your room? It's not a good look, and we should all be concerned about Elodie's reputation."

Esmeralda, having recovered from her surprise, raised a brow in return. "Honestly, who would read anything into a brother and sister spending time together? Miss Aldridge, aren't you being a little melodramatic?"

Patricia just smiled, undisturbed. "Forgive me, I'm only looking out for Elodie. That's all. I happened to hear from Mrs. Jett that Elodie's expecting.

Congratulations, by the way."

Ivan's easygoing expression snapped into something rigid.

Elodie's face finally changed too.

Queenie?

She stared at Patricia, shocked that Patricia knew, and even more stunned that she'd drop the news-right in front of Jarrod.

Esmeralda's emotions flickered across her face, openly frustrated.

A bombshell like that, dropped out of nowhere.

Wouldn't today spiral into a mess of misunderstandings?

an outsider, had just blurted it out in front

coming out

to Esmeralda, she still didn't want Elodie's reputation to suffer. What if Jarrod started questioning Elodie, or worse, suspected something between her

make a scene...how was

face darkened as she imagined the

forward and, without a word, slid his fingers between hers, holding her

saw every detail of that

glanced

and needs to be looked after," Jarrod said quietly. "If

then I appreciate it." His voice was

away nothing-no trace of the doubt or drama

anticipated this at all, and

her lips together in

hadn't expected Jarrod

she'd planned

was nothing

If others

could say to change

about the

the first time, she thought he

cold and tense, his eyes glued to Elodie's

was reeling. Elodie was

as casual as always. "Once you're finished here,

hands curled into fists, her expression

and the