How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue novel Chapter 404

Jarrod had clearly anticipated Elodie’s request even before she voiced it.

He listened to her quietly, waiting a few moments before responding, his tone measured and calm. “Aside from that, you can ask for whatever you want.”

A faint trace of irony curled at the edge of Elodie's lips. “That’s all I want.”

A silent standoff began, the tension so sharp that it prickled even across the phone line.

“The painting isn’t in my possession,” Jarrod said, his voice steady and unhurried. “And I can say for certain it’s not with Sylvie or her people either. It was never mine to begin with, so I can’t make that call.”

The message was clear.

Elodie frowned, thinking back. Sylvie had fought her for that painting, making it clear she wanted to buy it back and give it to Selma. So why wouldn’t they have it now? Had they sold it again?

She knew Jarrod well enough—he could be cold, but he rarely bothered to lie. If he or Sylvie had the painting, he’d simply tell her “no” or “that’s not possible.”

But now, her suspicions undeterred, Elodie pressed on. “Even if you did have it, you’d do whatever you could to protect their reputation.”

Jarrod didn’t respond.

She hadn’t expected him to.

After a pause, he finally spoke, his tone almost indifferent. “I can’t promise you that. And you know exactly what Nexus Analytics means for both you and VistaLink Technologies. You’re not going to walk away from it. If you want VistaLink to thrive, you need to strengthen your core tech as soon as possible. Leveraging this opportunity is the smart move. So…”

“I hope you make the most of it.”

Sometimes Elodie truly couldn’t figure out what went on in Jarrod’s mind.

She stood silent for a moment, brow furrowed, turning over in her head how to break this impasse.

Time wasn’t on her side. She needed to seize every opportunity, every opening. Nexus Analytics was the best shot she had.

As for the painting—she knew the score. Even if she got her hands on it, if Jarrod wanted to protect Selma, he’d find a way to stop her. He’d never let her do anything that might tarnish Sylvie’s image.