How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie felt nothing in particular about Ivan's attitude these days.

She shook her head calmly. "We're even now, Ivan. I honestly don't care about any of that anymore. Whether you knew or misunderstood it doesn't matter to me."

Her indifference made Ivan's expression flicker uncertainly. “How can you not blame me? I actually came here to tell you something-Malcom's in serious trouble. The Harcourt Group is under attack from several companies, their stock's tanked to rock bottom. They can't hold out much longer. I thought you should know this is Jarrod's doing."

"He's pushing Malcom to the edge."

Ivan avoided asking about Elodie's health; he couldn't bring himself to go there. All he wanted was for her to need him—if she did, he'd do anything for her.

"So?" Elodie's tone was flat.

"Malcom is your father. Doesn't he care what you think at all? Not even a shred of decency?"

Elodie smiled, slow and cool. "Do you even know what Malcom's done to me? There's no need to put on a show. Malcom had you thrown in jail, Ivan. Don't you want revenge? Would you let him off the hook just because of me? Would you really care about my relationship with him then?"

Ivan's gaze darkened.

Because, in that moment, he saw something different in Elodie when she talked about Jarrod. It was painfully clear-so clear it made his whole body ache.

Elodie wasn't

the takeover too. He just didn't want to admit how desperate and

she was on Jarrod's

clearly didn't want to talk to

her hand. "Elodie, leave him. Let's go back to how things were. If you forgive me,

one stuck in the past. I don't love you. This isn't about forgiveness -you still

it simple: you and I will

Ivan froze.

about to pull away,

answered,

voice: "Ma'am, could you come back for a bit? Mr. Silverstein isn't feeling well-he's really not looking

it made sense why Jarrod hadn't reached out. He'd

Ine

ends over her troubles, and now

Jarrod had collapsed, he

at Ivan, she shook free of his grip. "I

the whole exchange-he was so