How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue novel Chapter 120

Elodie was caught off guard by Jarrod's sudden attentiveness.

He'd rarely shown this side before. They hadn't spent much time together, and Jarrod was hardly the sentimental type.

This new gentleness had to be—well, probably the result of Sylvie's influence.

With a neutral expression, Elodie took the tissue he offered and turned, intending to leave.

But her foot slipped on the edge of the cushion beneath her, and she twisted her ankle.

"Careful."

"Careful!"

Two voices overlapped—one calm, one urgent.

Two hands caught her arms, steadying her.

Elodie looked up to find Jarrod on one side, Ivan on the other.

Jarrod's dark eyes were steady; even his tone was unhurried.

Ivan glanced at Jarrod with a raised brow. "So, Mr. Silverstein does have a soft spot after all."

The comment made Elodie uncomfortable. He was just poking fun at Jarrod's usual indifference toward her, nothing more.

She pulled her arm free from both of them and replied coolly, "Thank you."

Jarrod didn't bother explaining himself to Ivan. He merely lowered his eyes and said quietly to Elodie, "Be more careful."

Meanwhile, across the room—

Esmeralda was already snapping a photo of the scene on her phone.

She tugged Alexander aside and whispered, "Didn't you add Sylvie as a friend?"

"What do you want?" Alexander saw right through her scheming.

"Post this photo for your private group—set it so only Sylvie can see. Give Elodie a little win!" Esmeralda sent him the photo, arms crossed and smirking. "If she doesn't know her place, we'll be happy to remind her."

Alexander clicked his tongue. Esmeralda truly had a talent for getting under people's skin.

Not that he was any better. Besides—he was fiercely loyal to his own.

As for the post, Alexander didn't restrict it to just Sylvie. He tagged Maurice and Joseph, too—one of them was bound to see it. He was generous like that—if he had dirt, he made sure to share it.

Elodie had no idea what Esmeralda and Alexander were plotting. The ceremony was complicated enough that she had no time for distractions.

***

At the mountain resort—

If so, that was some next-level scheming.

Sylvie's calm eyes showed a hint of mockery, her voice soft but dismissive. "Do you think I care?"

She simply refused to stoop to Elodie's level. As far as she was concerned, if she ever wanted something, Jarrod would always put her first. No amount of Elodie's plotting would change that.

***

This year, they didn't plan to visit the cemetery. They held the memorial at home instead.

Her grandmother had gone all out, preparing a full spread for the family—a round table, every seat taken.

Elodie planned to talk to Jarrod about telling her grandmother the truth after the ceremony.

Looking for him, she found Jarrod deep in conversation with Alexander.

"I heard Professor Charles is leading a new research team on flight systems after the New Year. Are there any spots left for the training program?"

Elodie's steps faltered.

In that moment, everything became painfully clear.

No wonder Jarrod had agreed to play his part in this little drama—