How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod must have sensed they were talking about him, because he finally looked up.

With her arms crossed, Esmeralda snorted. "What's he staring at? It's not like I was wrong. Didn't he have a huge fight with you over the baby not long ago?"noveldrama

The moment the words left her mouth, regret followed. After all, this was still a sore spot for Elodie.

Esmeralda scratched her head awkwardly, at a loss for what to say next.

Alexander, knowing how blunt she could be, gave her a gentle flick on the forehead. "Go sit with the kids' table, will you?"

Elodie's expression didn't betray anything, but a sharp pain lanced through her chest, radiating down to her abdomen-a reminder that some wounds never truly heal.

She drew a quiet breath, trying to suppress the ache.

Just then, the family matriarch waved her over with a warm smile. "Come here, sweetheart, sit with us grandmothers for a bit."

Esmeralda, ever protective, tagged along. She'd spotted Elodie's formidable mother-in-law at the main table and worried Elodie might be at a disadvantage. If that woman started anything, Esmeralda was ready for a showdown. Elodie might care about keeping up appearances, but Esmeralda did not. Why should Elodie always be the one to suffer?

As Elodie approached, she noticed that Jarrod's side of the family was nowhere to be seen-maybe they hadn't arrived yet, or they were mingling elsewhere.

The matriarch reached out, taking Elodie's hand just as a voice cut in:

"Henrietta, you look absolutely radiant today."

Elodie's fingers instinctively tightened at the sound. She shot a cold look at the

newcomer.

Patricia, dressed in a demure, elegant style that would win over any elder, cradled an ornate birthday gift as she stepped forward to greet the matriarch- immediately stealing the spotlight from Elodie, the real granddaughter-in-law.

The old woman studied her for a moment before recognition dawned. "Miss Aldridge?"

Patricia's smile brightened. "I'm so glad you remember me. I came especially to wish you a long, happy life and endless joy."

Esmeralda's face instantly soured. She leaned in to whisper to Elodie, "She's acting like she's Jarrod's wife, strutting up to the main table. What's she even doing here?"

Elodie pressed her lips together, her mind still unsettled by everything that had happened at the hospital. She couldn't possibly feel calm toward Patricia.

Rosemary, observing Patricia, sensed that this woman was far from simple. Jarrod shot Patricia a cold glance, making it clear she wasn't welcome.

The matriarch nodded politely. "That's very thoughtful of you." She signaled for someone to take the gift but had no intention of chatting further.

She pulled Elodie down beside her,

patting her hand affectionately before turning to Rosemary. "Today's a day of celebration. Honestly, I don't care how many years I have left. My greatest wish is for Elodie and Jarrod to be happy together, to build a strong marriage and a good life. And if we could welcome a great-grandchild this year, well, that would be perfect, wouldn't it?"

Patricia could tell she wasn't exactly being embraced, but she simply stood by, playing the part of the polite junior.

The matriarch's words hung in the air. Rosemary said nothing-her beloved granddaughter was divorced, after all. Lucinda Howard kept her opinions to herself; with the matriarch present, she dared not speak out of turn.

But then Patricia broke the silence with feigned surprise. "A great-grandchild? Wasn't it Ms. Thorne who just terminated Mr. Silverstein's child? Didn't you all know?"

Her voice rang out, drawing startled looks from the surrounding guests.

Jarrod's gaze turned ice-cold. Without a word, he growled, "Get security. Show her out."

Elodie snapped her head toward Patricia, a chilling certainty dawning. About the baby... Patricia might not be as innocent as she pretended.

The matriarch's face went pale. "What do you mean?”

Lucinda shot to her feet, her expression thunderous. "What's going on?"

Rosemary and Emile stared in shock.

Before security could arrive, Patricia tilted her head, glancing at Jarrod's furious face before turning back to the crowd. "You really didn't know? Ms. Thorne didn't want Mr.

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Silverstein's child. After all these years, the Silverstein family was finally about to have a baby, and she

secretly ended the pregnancy

without telling anyone?"

The matriarch gasped, her breathing turning ragged.

The guests nearby were stunned, the news rippling through the room in whispers.

Lucinda's face twisted with anger as

she glared at Elodie. "What have you

done? That was the Silverstein family's child! If your grandmother has a heart attack because of this, can you live with yourself? Today's her birthday!"

The accusations slammed into Elodie, as if she were the one responsible for ruining the entire celebration.

"Mother, since when do we take the word of an outsider?" Jarrod stepped forward, shielding Elodie behind him. His voice was icy, but his intent to protect her was unmistakable.

The matriarch pressed a trembling hand to her chest. "Elodie, tell me it isn't true."

Elodie's jaw ached from clenching her teeth. She knew what the old woman wanted to hear, but how could she say it?

Esmeralda saw what was happening-Elodie was being made the scapegoat, and they wouldn't rest until she'd been found guilty of something.

Eyes red with fury, Esmeralda strode forward and slammed her hand on the table. "None of you have the right to judge her!"

"You think she wanted this? She was sick-seriously ill!"