How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

As soon as she set foot in headquarters, it was clear: stepping inside meant she'd

be forced to split power with Jarrod, and everyone on the board would be watching, ready to switch loyalties at a moment's notice.

For Jarrod, it was a future full of hidden dangers and trouble.

She wasn't about to let that happen.

This was his chessboard, but she would keep it steady.

Even Lucinda, usually so composed, found herself glancing at Elodie with a complicated expression. Elodie's hand, resting on the table, was only just regaining color; her entire body seemed on the verge of collapse-frail, sickly, yet somehow holding everything together.

She was running on nothing but pure willpower.

Lucinda realized, with a shock, that she'd never truly seen Elodie before-not like this.

Now, with Elodie stepping up as their guarantee and smoothing things over so seamlessly, anyone raising objections would be painting a target on their back. If Mr. Silverstein returned and decided to settle scores, being the one who stood out would only bring disaster.

Who in the room didn't understand that?

Everyone exchanged wary glances.

Finally, President Burke-who Lucinda had already briefed-broke the silence. "If Ms. Thorne is willing to guarantee this, I have no objections."

Once he spoke, the rest of the board quietly reconsidered. One after another, they nodded. "Let Ms. Thorne handle it. If she can't, we'll revisit the backup plan."

The balance of power shifted again.

Anyone with sense knew what the right move was now.

the Silverstein family's internal struggle. Who would volunteer

now,

his jaw, shooting Elodie a cold glare. "You and Jarrod really are cut

smiled faintly. "I'll take

other hand, was so furious he slammed his hand

had never imagined Elodie would show up, let alone that she'd have the strength to turn the tables. He hadn't even managed to pull off a surprise attack- the timing was all wrong. Elodie had been one step ahead, forcing

things had gone as he'd planned, he'd already

Jarrod's power and resources for himself, nibbling away at

But now-

Everything had collapsed.

fists tightened so

years ago, he'd just run

no attention

barely holding herself

and her lips lost what little

reached out to steady her. "You're burning up." Candida's voice trembled with worry.

coming here, Ms. Thorne

painkiller

meeting. She'd been running on empty

were. She shot Andrea

taking

tried to wave her off. "I'm

already gone, moving

needed to stay behind to wrap up the aftermath at

ended up back at the

didn't go to

come: Jarrod was finally out