How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Lily finally fixed her gaze on the ring on Elodie's hand. "I remember years ago— maybe four years?—I went with my dad to an auction in Paris. That ring was the highlight of the night."

Elodie immediately turned to look at Jarrod, who met her eyes calmly, as if he'd been expecting this.

Lily went on, "It was a real showstopper. Everyone wanted it, and if I remember right, the final price was... about eleven million dollars."

Elodie nearly choked.

She lowered her eyes to the ring on her finger, then looked back at Jarrod, stunned.

How much?

"That ring has a legendary backstory. It's a one-of-a-kind piece by a top Spanish jeweler from a century ago. The value was off the charts. I remember the auctioneer saying it had ended up in a museum collection. The designer created it in the name of love, and it inspired all sorts of stories back then. A few years ago, the museum put it back on the block, calling it 'Heart and Soul'-and it went for a fortune."

The memory was still vivid for Lily.

She'd grown up in a family that traveled the world, often tagging along with her father.

She'd only been a teenager back then, still dazzled by the world of fine jewelry, but with a price tag like that, there was no way she could compete.

After all, who would spend eleven million on a diamond ring?

"Mr. Silverstein really spoils his wife," Lucy blurted out, her face full of envy.

Elodie felt the ring burning on her finger.

She stared at Jarrod in disbelief. "Is that true?"

Jarrod shot her a sidelong glance. "It's true."

really had flown out

week after they'd decided to go to

speechless for a

breathed a

one-off from an auction. So

had left everyone at the table a

Talk about effort.

across at Esmeralda, but

felt like the ring was a hot potato. She slipped her hand to her lap and smoothly changed the subject. "So, have we finalized everyone's opinions for the

conversation back on

snapped out of their

in, voice low. "Holy crap.

man

fortune just to put a mountain of gold on her

their level, that kind of price

that money back. He'd just thrown everything at it,

a

ran her finger over the

Alexander tugged Esmeralda's

sleeve,

she sat back,

"Looks like things have

thawed between them."

Esmest exhaled, not sure

what

Jarronet friend,'

for