How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Lucinda's face froze in shock, her usually cool and striking features unraveling

into unguarded disbelief. For a long moment, she seemed at a loss for words.

Then her expression hardened, incredulity replacing confusion as she fixed Jarrod

with a stare. "Do you even hear yourself? All this over a woman? Is it really worth

it-"

"When Dad had other women, you certainly didn't react like this."

Jarrod's words cut in, leaving no room for doubt.

Back then, he'd been caught in the crossfire of their bitter relationship more times

than he could count.

He wasn't even ten when Lucinda and his father started fighting in earnest. But

both families cared deeply about appearances and reputation-their marriage

was a show of unity, so in public they played the part of a loving couple, while in

private their arguments were explosive and relentless.

He remembered thinking how exhausting it all was.

Neither of them cared about anyone but themselves, whittling away at each other,

day after day, year after year.

Jarrod knew Lucinda had suffered her share of heartbreak in marriage. But he

couldn't accept that she would knowingly hurt Elodie, standing so firm and

righteous-even though she herself had once been in such a position. Any

compassion she might have had was now locked away, unreachable.

with anger, her beautiful face

exposed

keep arguing. The pain of the

glanced at her, his tone quiet but

if you stayed out of my business.

it won't matter."

called down to the driver to

she was

another

into the room, Elodie was already awake.

responding to messages on her

up when she heard him

acted as if nothing had happened-as if Lucinda had

there.

walked over and gently touched Elodie's

the hospital, she'd been running

seemed much better.

want to talk to me

going through?"

low, weighted

No matter

he needed

everything-inside and out-about

Elodie's condition.

Jarrod had said to Lucinda. It left

illness was obvious to anyone. Jarrod was willing

Silverstein family because of

a

said quietly,

"I've been

lost my hair. Other

much to

I wake up to a

pills, and the