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.

trembled with anger, her

struck a nerve that exposed all the rot

to keep arguing. The pain of the day

his tone quiet

if you stayed out

it won't matter."

called down to the

when she was

another word

back into the room, Elodie was already

to messages on

when she heard

nothing had happened-as if Lucinda had never even

there.

over and gently

to the hospital, she'd

seemed much better.

want to

you're going through?"

low, weighted

No matter how heavy

felt, he needed to

everything-inside and out-about

Elodie's condition.

what Jarrod had said to Lucinda. It left

illness was obvious to anyone. Jarrod was willing to go

Silverstein family

a few rounds

said

"I've been

hair. Other than

much

up to a handful

pills, and the