How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue novel Chapter 158

Ivan immediately let go and smiled. "Why didn't you tell me in advance? I could've come to pick you up."

Queenie finally broke into a grin, walked over, and wrapped her arms around his waist, nestling against his chest. Her voice was soft and teasing. "I didn't want you to wear yourself out. You kept me up half the night, remember?"

Elodie lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable.

The possessive undertone in Queenie's words didn't stir any emotion in her—none at all. She was just an onlooker in this story.

Queenie, however, turned her attention to Elodie and smiled. "Can you stay a bit longer tonight? We're having a feast, and we need you here."

Elodie met her gaze, her voice even. "What's on the menu?"

Queenie winked mischievously. "You'll see soon enough."

She left it at that, then playfully tugged Ivan toward the other side of the room. "My dad just arrived. Come say hi."

Ivan slipped an arm around her waist and didn't refuse. As he walked away, though, he shot Elodie a glance—its meaning impossible to decipher.

Elodie didn't dwell on it.

When Esmeralda returned, she shook her head. "No luck. This Fergus is a real mystery."

Elodie scanned the room but didn't seem bothered. "Let's go grab our seats in the auction hall."

Their table was in the second row. As for the front row…

Elodie glanced up.

Just as she expected, Jarrod and Sylvie were settling into the prime seats at the center of the first row.

There was always a pecking order at events like this.

Not that it mattered to her. Still, from where she sat, every time she looked toward the stage, Jarrod and Sylvie were the first people she saw.

And every time she glanced up, Sylvie was leaning in close, whispering something to Jarrod, who would bend his head, listening intently.

Whatever they were saying, Jarrod would smile faintly, his eyes warm and attentive as he looked at Sylvie—so gentle, so focused, it was almost unsettling.

Elodie's expression remained calm as she looked past them to the stage.