How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

As they left the hospital, Esmeralda looked utterly deflated, her bright spirit wilted like a flower after the frost.

The girl who'd always been a ray of sunshine now seemed drained of all her warmth.

Elodie knew exactly why-Esmeralda was worried for her, and heartbroken too.

Pulling her into a gentle hug, Elodie tried to reassure her. "Look at me I'm right here, aren't I? I'm getting proper treatment, I promise. Dr. Warwick studied abroad; he's an expert. He's confident the odds are in my favor, really."

Esmeralda wanted to be angry with Elodie, to blame her for keeping so much hidden. But seeing her friend's thin, fragile figure-drawn even paler by illness- all she felt was sorrow and aching sympathy. "I'm angry, you know," she said softly. "Three years of marriage and all you get is this sickness. And now, on top of the pain, you have to bear the loss of your child, both in body and in heart. Sometimes I wish Jarrod could feel even a fraction of what you're going through."

But a man like Jarrod what could possibly hurt him? What could ever make him suffer?

He was always so cold, so detached—especially with Elodie.

Elodie shook her head slowly. "There's no point getting tangled up in all that. Right now, all I can do is focus on getting better...and on saying goodbye to this baby."

Everything else was beyond her strength.

At the mention of it, Esmeralda sniffled. "I'll be here for you, okay? Alex too. Lean on us a little, will you?"

Elodie absently rested her hand on her stomach and managed a faint smile. "I will. But right now, I want to stop by VistaLink Technologies. Galen mentioned there's a glitch in the data set—I should take a look."

Esmeralda hesitated, but knew better than to argue. Elodie always took her responsibilities seriously-once she committed, she never cut corners.

There was nothing for it but to let her be.

Esmeralda drove through the city, circling around Global Trade Plaza on the way to VistaLink Technologies.

That route, unavoidably, took them past The Silverstein Group's headquarters.

Elodie was lost in thought, but her gaze caught on a car parked at the Silverstein Group entrance.

She watched as Malcolm Harcourt stepped out, straightening his suit with a broad, self-assured grin before heading into the building.

Elodie frowned.

What was Malcolm doing with The Silverstein Group? Were they working together now?

After the last incident-Malcolm's threats and his attempts at manipulation—she wouldn't put it past him to use her name with Jarrod, hoping to wrangle some benefit. The thought unsettled her.

From where she stood, she was done with Malcolm, and she'd soon be done with Jarrod too.

She tore her eyes away, brow furrowing in troubled thought.

-

By the time Malcolm made it up to the executive suite, Jarrod had just arrived from his flight out of Duskendale.

"Jarrod, hope I'm not interrupting?" Malcolm strode in wearing an easy smile.

Jarrod looked up, the faintest of smiles touching his lips. "Please, have a seat."

"I've been wanting to meet for ages," Malcolm continued, settling into the chair. "You're always so busy, it's nearly impossible to pin you down. Glad we could finally make it happen." Truthfully, Malcolm was more than a little irritated_He was

Jarrod's father-in-law, after

ver

all-since when did he need an

appointment to see him?

Jarrod steered the conversation back on track. "What brings you by today?"

Malcolm finally got to the point.

1.n

"Well, you know, you may be young, but you're something of a financial prodigy. The Harcourt family's business has always been...modest, but we landed a decent contract in Europe recently, and things are looking up. I'd love to learn a thing or two from you.”

"You're too kind," Jarrod replied, pouring him a cup of tea with measured calm.

Malcolm took this as a good sign and pressed on. "So, Jarrod, if The Silverstein Group ever has a promising new project, maybe you could let the Harcourt family in on it?"

That last deal had been a stroke of luck for him. If things weren't working out with Elodie, he'd just go directly to Jarrod.

Jarrod's eyes narrowed slightly.

Malcolm gave a heavy sigh.

"Everything the Harcourt family has will eventually be Elodie's, you know. As her father, I have to think ahead for her sake. She's been married to you for years, running your household-if nothing else, she's earned that. I hope you still

remember her kindness."

Andrea entered just in time to catch Malcolm's words. She glanced at him coollynoveldrama

and moved to stand behind Jarrod.

Jarrod's reply was quietly measured. "You give her too much credit. I admit, I owe Elodie more than I can say."