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.

didn't get signed off, or

board

quickly scanned the

senior officials

course, everything was bottlenecked with

much of a

behind this, he must have pulled some serious strings-

Jarrod's authority—make sure he doesn't come back to power." Elodie reviewed the project stakeholders, then paused,

immediately understood-she

it," he said,

drip in her hand. Ignoring her own

her phone and

à Whitaker's number.

having connections if you don't use

with him,

pick her up from

leaving, Elodie stopped by Jarrod's

He was still unconscious.

a long,

how bad things looked, she'd hold the line for

as Candida arrived, Elodie, still hooked up to her IV, headed straight for The Silverstein

floor conference room, The Silverstein