How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Watts understood all too well.

Jarrod had probably moved the child elsewhere long ago.

That "busy" organization back in New York City was nothing but a smokescreen.

Anyone looking into it would only see business as usual, never realizingnoveldrama

everything had already been set in motion behind the scenes.

And that was exactly why Watts found Jarrod so utterly detestable.

The old saying about a cunning fox with three escape holes could have been written for Jarrod he always had another trick, another backup plan.

Watts knew, deep down, that today would be a fight to the bitter end. No one was walking away unscathed.

The Verdania project-once a cornerstone of his ambitions-was finished. They'd lost all leverage and any chance to negotiate.

Even Elodie... there was no way he could take her with him now.

Pain radiated from the wound on his back, a sharp reminder of how much he'd lost today. It almost felt as if this injury would haunt him for the rest of his life, a constant echo of defeat.

For a moment, he couldn't tell which stung more: his anger and resentment toward Jarrod's company, or the ache of losing Elodie.

He stared at Elodie, but his words were for Jarrod. "Let's lay our cards on the table, Mr. Silverstein. What's your next move?"

Elodie didn't look up. She'd made up her mind-she never wanted anything to do with Watts again.

Jarrod glanced upward, coldly composed. "You should be well aware, Mr. Aldridge. Patricia is still locked away back home. Your father agreed to three years-if she serves a day less, she's not getting out. It was already a courtesy that I let her handle those old grudges in private. But you, Mr. Aldridge, you went and shattered all of that yourself."

Watts' eyes hardened.

Jarrod's voice sharpened, cutting through the air. "Let me be clear. Patricia is my bargaining chip now. She's not going to get any peace as long as I hold the reins. When the time comes, I have plenty of ways to make her 'relapse' again and again in there. Her forced rehab could last indefinitely. You and your sister may never see each other again."

The words were brutal, merciless.

Watts' expression finally cracked.

Even if he'd long since tried to let go achment to Patricia,

of his

was still someone he'd protearen

for

years. She was still family.

And now Jarrod was striking directly at his weakest spot, twisting the knife with precision.

He froze, rigid with helpless fury.

He knew Jarrod was entirely capable of carrying out every threat.

"Jarrod, how dare you-Patricia is still an Aldridge!"

Jarrod just sneered, his tone cool and mocking. "You think your actions can't touch your father?"

Watts' face darkened.

Jarrod didn't hesitate to twist the knife deeper. "Your little 'kidnapping' of Elodie has already been reported It's a serious offense-one that's sparked a crisis of trust between both countries. When you catted to 'inform' me you had Elodie, and even threatened me with her child, I recorded every word. If the

authorities back home open an

investigation, your father will be

implicated. And as for you..."

"You can spend the rest of your life hiding abroad, never setting foot home again. But if you return, there's no escaping the consequences You'll be prosecuted for everything you've done, Mr. Aldridge. Is this the ending you were hoping for?"

Jarrod had always been the master of the killing blow-his words were as light as

a breeze, yet devastating.

Even Elodie was shaken to the core. She saw clearly that Jarrod's tactics had completely destroyed Watts' life.

Everything would change, in ways both big and small, now that Watts could never return home.

Watts understood as well.

Jarrod had strangled the last hopes of his future.

First and foremost: he was exiled, unable to return to his own country.

Patricia would remain a hostage in Jarrod's hands, a pawn to control him. The siblings would never see one another again.