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.

crowd had gathered outside

Silverstein Group. He threw this whole fireworks show for his girlfriend's birthday-cost over

of Technology, all the top companies are fighting to hire her. She's smart, gorgeous, comes from a powerful family, and her boyfriend is not

Silverstein is so crazy about her. Who

lavish display for a long time, the test results crumpling in her hand until finally, the thin

and walked

Later that night.

home to find Elodie sitting alone in the

flicked on the lights, frowning. "Why

arm, and his dark eyes- cold and

used to think his indifference was

man who was ice in her arms could burn like fire for someone

more than a whisper. "I went

tossed his coat onto the couch, barely interested. "What did the doctor

of stomach pain for weeks. He'd promised to go with her, but there

come along. But then he found out

the office in a rush just

a thought

nothing. The doctor said just wait and see," Elodie said softly, lowering her

for a moment, then moved

into his arms, his breath