How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

"Jarrod, what's that supposed to mean?" Sylvie's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she fought to keep her emotions in check.

He looked at her, his gaze deep, unreadable. Even though his expression was calm and composed, something about it sent a chill racing down Sylvie's spine.

"I was late because I had to deal with something. Is that a problem?" Jarrod's tone was perfectly even, betraying nothing.

But Sylvie felt her heart clench with dread.

Elodie, watching Sylvie's reaction, suddenly understood everything.

At a time like this, who else would try something so underhanded?

What really surprised her was that Sylvie would still dare to play dirty, knowing full

well she'd be held accountable for her actions. And instead of just cutting her losses and slipping away, Sylvie had to drag Elodie down with her?

"Oh? I honestly thought you weren't coming." Sylvie steadied her voice, as if she hadn't the faintest idea what Jarrod had been dealing with.

Jarrod's eyes were icy as he looked at her. Not a single wasted word: "You have two options. First, apologize to her and beg her forgiveness. Second, Andrea- break her filthy hand."

Elodie's eyes widened ever so slightly.

She was stunned to hear words like that from Jarrod, a man who was always so poised, so self-controlled.

Sylvie froze, then stared at him in disbelief.noveldrama

Andrea had been brought over from Europe as a "special assistant," but everyone knew she was really Jarrod's bodyguard. Keith had once mentioned she was ruthless when it came to getting her hands dirty.

And as for apologizing... Sylvie knew it wouldn't be as simple as just saying "sorry."

She could feel Jarrod's anger simmering beneath his calm facade, and though he still looked compos his words were chilling.

Even Elodie couldn't help glancing at him in surprise.

He's... actually angry?

Sylvie clenched her jaw, her face rigid and voice trembling with outrage, "What did

I do wrong? Why should I have to?"

Jarrod didn't bother arguing. His eyes shuttered coldly. "If you refuse, then you won't be leaving Eldermere tonight."

Sylvie's breath caught in her throat.

She stared at him, horrified. How could Jarrod know everything... even about her plan to use her connections to sneak out of the country?

In an instant, icy despair swept through her.

Jarrod rarely showed this kind of open coldness. He instinctively reached for his pack of cigarettes, about to fight one, but hesitated. His gaze flicked to Elodie beside him, then he tossed the pack back into the car, expression unreadable.

His clear, glacial eyes fixed on Sylvie.

Elodie watched him in silence.

They'd been together so long, once so in love but now, even with Sylvie in trouble, Jarrod could turn

ruthlessly pragmatic. Even toward a woman he'd once cared for Be

could be this merciless.

At least, that's what Elodie saw before her now.

Of course, she knew Jarrod was standing up for her, demanding justice. But really, none of this mess was her doing. She was perfectly clear on that.

Sylvie was caught in a storm of panic and anxiety.

The agreed time to escape was drawing closer. If this dragged on, she'd lose her only chance.

Her composure began to crumble; her eyes were red as she stared at Elodie.

Her thoughts tangled into a painful knot. Deep down, she knew that Jarrod's demand for an apology was never just about saying a few words.

If she didn't act now, her life was over.

Humiliation washed over her, bitterness flooding her eyes, but she had no choice. Teeth clenched so hard she tasted blood, Sylvie suddenly dropped to her knees

before Elodie. Her voice shook, thick with resentment and hate. "Please...

forgive me. It was my fault. Even what happened to your mother-my family was to blame. I'm begging you, just let me go, please?"

Tears shimmered in her eyes.

Her lifelong pride, always towering above everyone else, was being stripped away piece by piece.

She never could have imagined ending up like this.

She'd always been so accomplished, so admired, the center of attention. But in

just a few months back home, everything had come crashing down.

Elodie watched, stunned, her emotions conflicted.

Someone like her could never have forced Sylvie to such a humiliating apology by her own power.

Her greatest enemy, brought this low.

But she felt no pity. After everything Sylvie had done, and the "accident" tonight, it was almost poetic.

She stared back coldly at those crocodile tears. "Honestly? You had it coming."