How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue novel Chapter 180

Maurice was genuinely surprised.

Elodie was being all businesslike?

Cold, detached, as if they were discussing a merger and not the end of a marriage.

But that veneer cracked in an instant.

A faint crease appeared between Elodie's brows as she scanned the rest of the agreement. Whatever charitable assumptions she'd made about Jarrod's intentions vanished without a trace.

She'd found the other two conditions.

The first: for one year, she was forbidden from telling Henrietta the truth about the divorce.

The second: unless Jarrod gave explicit permission, she was not allowed to reveal to anyone that they'd been married for three years, nor was she allowed to disclose the exact date of their divorce.

If she broke the terms, Jarrod had the right to defend his reputation and reclaim the house, the shops, the financial settlement—everything he'd promised her. And if she breached the agreement, he could demand "reasonable compensation." The definition of "reasonable" would be up to Jarrod.

Elodie's fingers curled slowly into a fist. She looked up at him across the table.

"What does this mean?" Her voice was cool, but there was steel beneath it.

Jarrod regarded her with the same practiced indifference. "Which part don't you understand? Albin can clarify for you, if you want."

"Why can't we tell your grandmother the truth?"

"She's not in good health," Jarrod replied, his tone almost gentle. "I hope you understand."

Elodie drew in a slow breath. "And the other clause?"

Jarrod's eyes flickered, just a hint of a smirk. "It's exactly what it says."

Elodie almost laughed. She knew perfectly well what that clause was about.

He wasn't preventing her from disclosing their marriage or the date of their divorce to protect himself. This was all for Sylvie—to preserve her pristine reputation.

If no one knew when Sylvie had come into the picture, no one could accuse her of being the other woman. The timeline would simply vanish.

Jarrod was bending over backward to keep Sylvie's hands clean.

Elodie exhaled, her composure returning. "And if I refuse to sign?"

"If you agree to the terms, this ring goes back to its rightful owner." Jarrod set a delicate, vintage ring box on the table with an air of nonchalance.