How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Watts finally revealed the source of his materials, resolving the tense impasse with perfect timing.

Anyone watching would agree-he'd just saved the day.

A flurry of thoughts raced through Elodie's mind; she couldn't pretend she wasn't surprised.

This material was so rare that even overseas, only a handful of companies had access to it. It was a cornerstone of military power and cutting-edge technology, a ticket to absolute influence and, even more, to unimaginable profit.

It was the kind of prize that could drive investors into a frenzy.

Until now, only Jarrod had managed to secure it domestically, making the entire industry—and even the continent-reliant on his production process.

Yet Watts, it turned out, had it too. He'd never breathed a word, not the faintest hint...

Not until this very moment.

Suddenly, Elodie realized just how deep a game this young man was playing.

She instinctively glanced at Jarrod.

He sat with patrician poise, leaning back and watching Watts, unhurried and unruffled.

He didn't seem surprised at all.

felt her tension ebb away. She

was stunned. "Watts,

smile, sinking comfortably into his chair. "Mr. Whitaker, I am, after all, the next in line

the next year or two shouldn't be an issue. Especially considering—well,

everything that's happened, it can't be easy. Public outrage, loss of life, mounting questions-it's not something that just goes away. Honestly, I'd hoped to stay out of the domestic market, but with Silverstein's troubles, I felt

"Mr. Aldridge, your

"Just looking out

exactly what

two years ago-back in Verdania-they'd clashed over this material.

very

a catastrophic collapse, supply chains

even called

yet, here he was again-back from

choose between Eldrion Global, the dominant defense contractor, and his own embattled firm, the answer

Not long ago, Elodie was caught up in a scandal-accused of falsifying data to boost my standing. So, allow me to submit every test report from my company since day one: annual, quarterly, even monthly. All these records have been stored

the

authoritative institute in Verdania.

reputation is absolute; they

checks, and everyone knows their

was visibly taken