How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

It was probably connected to Malcom as well.

Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone, blocked the number, and reminded, "Grandma, from now on, don't answer calls from strangers. Things are a little unsettled with the Harcourt family lately. We're staying out of it."

Rosemary didn't know the details, but she always listened to Elodie.

Truth be told, Elodie herself didn't know exactly what was happening with the Harcourts, but if Jarrod had stepped in, it definitely wasn't a minor issue.

Elodie got up, planning to get some fresh air. She'd barely reached the front door when her phone rang-Esmeralda Mercer's name flashed on the screen.

Esmeralda's excitement was impossible to hide. "I just heard the juiciest bit of gossip! It's wild!"

Elodie glanced up at the crisp autumn sky, adjusting her collar against the chill. "What happened?"

“Patricia's in huge trouble. I have so many friends, you know, and I just heard she's been forced into rehab. Forced, Elodie! And rumor has it, she'll be in there for a long time. Isn't that insane? Wasn't she supposed to be the golden girl, the darling of the big shots? And look at her now-who'd have thought she'd end up like this?"

Esmeralda sounded positively giddy.

Back at Henrietta's birthday party, Patricia had tried to turn the tables and smear Elodie's name in public, even though she was the one causing trouble. Now, it seemed justice had finally caught up with her.

Elodie was fairly certain Jarrod had a hand in this. Getting someone like Patricia to fall so hard was no small feat.

At last... it felt like justice for her poor child.

Still, Jarrod hadn't contacted her about any of it.

With Patricia's status, Elodie knew it was almost impossible for anyone to actually bring her down.

But somehow, she'd been sent away-and a forced rehab facility was a fate far worse than prison.noveldrama

She'd get what she deserved.

"She totally had it coming!" Esmeralda grumbled.

That reminded Elodie, "By the way, Alex mentioned you haven't been to VistaLink Technologies for two days. Is something going on?"

The question seemed to catch Esmeralda off guard. She hesitated, her voice suddenly small. "My uh... fiancé, Fleming, is back."

Elodie recalled now why Fleming had looked so familiar when she'd seen him at the base the other day.

She'd met him years ago-Esmeralda's childhood fiancé, arranged by their families.

She and Fleming had been circling each other for years, never quite settling. "So... are you two actually getting married?" Elodie asked.

Esmeralda went quiet for a moment, her voice dull. "I don't know. He hasn't said anything."

Elodie was aware their relationship was more complicated than most people realized.

Finally, Esmeralda forced a chuckle. "Whatever. Whatever happens, happens. It's not like I'm desperate to get married. You just focus on getting better, okay? I'll come visit you tomorrow."

Clearly wanting to avoid the topic, Esmeralda ended the call quickly.

Elodie stared at her phone for a long moment. Right below Esmeralda's name was Jarrod's.

He'd taken care of such a big problem but hadn't said a word to her. Now he seemed to have vanished entirely.

As she wondered about him, someone appeared in front of her.

A tall figure blocked the light; she recognized those long legs and looked up straight into Ivan Harcourt's gaze.

He stared at her intensely. "Elodie, I... I've ended things with Queenie Jett. For good."

Ever since Jarrod had told him the truth, he'd decided he wasn't going to let either the Jetts or the Harcourts off the hook.

Elodie could already guess what he wanted to say, so she instinctively stepped back.

The gesture made Ivan's chest ache. He spoke hoarsely, "I'm sorry... for everything you went through. If Queente hadn't lied to me, I never would've treated you that way. Elodie, can you ever forgive me?”

He wanted to go back-back to when Elodie had needed him, back when she'd

looked at him with trust in her eyes.