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 scapegoat in the

for now, had

a cold glare. "You and Jarrod really are cut from the

smiled faintly. "I'll take

other hand, was so furious he slammed his hand on the table and stormed

hadn't even managed to pull off a surprise attack- the timing was all wrong.

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

power and resources

But now-

Everything had collapsed.

fists tightened so hard his knuckles

couldn't help but think: if only, a few years ago, he'd just run Elodie off the road -none

no attention to

was barely

she turned to leave, her step faltered, and her lips lost what little color they had

she reached out to steady her. "You're burning up." Candida's voice trembled with worry. "Ms. Thorne, you really don't look well.

here,

painkiller

She'd been running on empty for

just how bad things were.

taking her to the

to wave

was already gone, moving

needed to stay behind to wrap up the aftermath at Silverstein Group's headquarters, making sure no

back at the

go to her

come: Jarrod was