How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

"I'm sorry, Miss Elodie Thorne. You missed the optimal window for surgery..."

Elodie stood frozen for a long time, clutching the diagnosis confirming her uterine cancer, before she finally dialed Jarrod Silverstein's secretary, Keith.

The line rang endlessly before he picked up, his tone as flippant as ever. "Yes, Mrs. Silverstein? Can I help you?"

Elodie's fingers curled, stiff and cold. "Is Jarrod there? I need to speak with him."

"Mr. Silverstein is unavailable at the moment," Keith replied.

"Please, could you put him on—"

She didn't even finish before another voice floated through the receiver-a woman's voice, gentle and sweet. "Jarrod," she teased, "what's this surprise? Why all the secrecy?"

"Look up," came Jarrod's deep, familiar voice-so gentle, yet never for her.

A second later, Keith cut the call without hesitation.

At that very moment-

Boom-

An explosion thundered from across the harbor. Elodie looked up, her face drained of color.

Brilliant fireworks burst over the distant waterfront, streaks of color twisting together in the midnight blue sky-beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale.

had gathered outside

President Silverstein from The Silverstein Group. He threw this

Sylvie Fielding, you know! PhD from Pinecrest Institute of Technology, all the top companies are fighting to hire

crazy about her. Who wouldn't be proud to

test results crumpling in her hand until finally, the thin paper slipped from her fingers and fluttered

turned and

Later that night.

to find Elodie sitting alone in

lights, frowning. "Why aren't you in

him. His jacket was slung over his arm, and his dark eyes- cold and unreadable

used to think his indifference was

man who was ice in her arms could

was barely more than a whisper. "I

couch, barely

to go with her, but there

he'd come along. But then he

a rush just in time

hadn't spared a thought

see," Elodie said

for a moment, then

his arms, his breath hot against her