How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

When Elodie saw Patricia being led out, dazed and disheveled, she couldn't help but suspect what was really going on.

The place was swarming with police officers.

Across the room, the privileged heirs lounged around with an air of careless indifference, as if none of this concerned them in the slightest.

Only Patricia stood out. Her face was drawn and pale, and as she was being escorted away, she instinctively lifted her head.

That's when she saw Jarrod, standing beside Elodie.

For a split second, her beauty-usually enough to outshine any actress-seemed almost ghostly, her expression clouded with suspicion and disbelief.

Still, she climbed into the police car without protest.

It was only then that Watts seemed to realize what was happening and hurried over to negotiate with the officers.

The entire group made a grand, noisy exit.

Watts stayed behind.

His jaw was clenched tight as he fixed his gaze on Jarrod and strode toward them.

"Mr. Silverstein. What a coincidence, isn't it?" Watts' eyes lingered briefly on Elodie before he asked, "About Patricia-are you just a bystander, or are you involved in all of this?"

Jarrod looked at him, unhurried and calm. "What are you implying, Mr. Aldridge? Patricia seems to have landed herself in trouble, and yet you find the time to come greet me?"

Elodie's eyebrows lifted almost imperceptibly, betraying nothing.

"Watts' eyes grew cold. "That's hardly fair, is it, Mr. Silverstein?"

for an art exhibition

the club. Maybe it was because of Jarrod, maybe it was her own creative frustration, but her mood had been volatile-and she'd messed

was almost

precision. The club manager hadn't even

was

single person

they were all being taken

too late to stop any

all happened so fast, no

now Patricia was in

didn't believe for one second

had Jarrod's fingerprints all

was sure of it-this was

wrist. When his gaze swept toward Watts, his expression was cool, almost icy,

"It's unfortunate about

used to

But

full now, Mr. Aldridge. I shouldn't take up any more of

bother to

he turned and

didn't even

left without so much as

them go, his fists clenching at his

situation was

could all be smoothed over quietly, it