How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie managed to prop herself up, grimacing as she tried to sit.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice raspy.

Andrea's expression was grave. "There's been a shake-up at the board. Sprague called a meeting this morning-looks like he's making a move for control."

Elodie's brow furrowed. She had suspected things wouldn't stay quiet after Jarrod's accident.

Especially with the second branch of the family back in the country-everyone was getting restless, circling like sharks.

"The board's divided into factions," Andrea explained. "Even though the second branch was sent abroad a few years back, they've always had their own people here. The second branch was never going to stay idle. Now, when push comes to shove, we're seeing the lines drawn. Sprague's using the government's big new project as his opening. Mr. Silverstein's still unconscious-he can't intervene at all. It's the perfect opportunity for Sprague to exploit the chaos." Andrea watched Elodie closely, clearly worried.

The situation was getting tangled, fast.

If they didn't handle this right, the second branch would really seize their chance.

It was obvious: a power struggle with Mr. Silverstein was about to erupt.

Elodie was burning up with fever again, her body weak, but she forced herself to focus. Calming her nerves, she said, "Tell me the details first. And send me everything you have on this project—I want to look it over."

Andrea, always prepared, pulled out his laptop.

He set the computer in front of her. "This project is a five-year plan—a major overhaul in the tech sector. The entire board is invested. Now I'm hearing that the project's government liaison has doubts about Mr. Silverstein's leadership. The approval's still pending. Since Mr. Silverstein's in a coma, Sprague's team is shifting all the blame to him, painting him as the obstacle. With Jarrod out of commission, there's no one to push back."

Which meant Sprague's side could act with impunity.

off, or if negotiations stalled, the

the board

but she quickly scanned

were senior

everything was bottlenecked

of

he must have

eat away at Jarrod's authority—make sure he doesn't come back to power." Elodie reviewed the project stakeholders, then paused, thinking. "We can't let them win. Go to headquarters and stabilize the situation.

understood-she meant Lucinda

he said, and

glanced at the IV drip in her

her phone and

à Whitaker's number.

you don't

After settling things with him, she rang up

her up from the

stopped by Jarrod's

He was still unconscious.

took a long,

looked, she'd hold the

to her IV,

conference room, The Silverstein