How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elinor burned with anger but was forced to swallow it down.

She knew all too well what Jarrod Silverstein was capable of-how, years ago, he'd squeezed their side of the family until they barely had a foothold left. They'd been all but "exiled" for years now.

Deep down, Elinor feared and dreaded Jarrod more than she cared to admit. She kept her mouth shut, not daring to utter a single word.

But the one who was truly seething was Patricia Aldridge.

She'd arrived today in good spirits, only to find Jarrod even sharper and more ruthless than he'd been in years past.

All her life, Patricia had been the one others fawned over-except when it came to Jarrod. In front of him, she'd stumbled again and again.

And now, to be dismissed with a word as humiliating as "mistress"—it was an outright insult.

Sprague Silverstein pressed his lips together. Though he was quietly furious, he forced himself to keep his composure. “Jarrod, Miss Aldridge is our guest,” he reminded.

Jarrod had already brushed past him, his usual poise now tinged with venom. "If you still can't see the reality of things, big brother, maybe you ought to return to Italy for a few more years. Figure out whose side you're really on."

Each word struck deeper than the last.

Sprague's eyes darkened.

let his emotions show, no matter the time or place. But now, he couldn't even be bothered to keep up appearances. Not for any of them.

first time, she saw her son—so brilliant, so inscrutable, always a step ahead completely undone over a

ready to upend their entire world

in wasting any more words on people who didn't matter. After checking on his grandmother,

Patricia, he had plenty of

Lucinda turned to Patricia and said quietly, "My apologies, Miss Aldridge.

Patricia's intentions, but she also knew no one could dictate Jarrod's choices. Not her, not

Patricia caught the meaning

it show, just clenched her fingers tighter before nodding. "It's fine, He's alwaysbeen like this. We've known each other for years-there's

won't impose any longer

for the sake of empty pleasantries. Her proud,

in a low voice.

Patricia didn't refuse.

one after the other, leaving Lucinda and Elinor alone in the

herself, was still indignant. After all, Jarrod

care about his grandmother's

at her coolly. "If you're so envious, why not

after his wife?