How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

A quiet voice came from inside the room. "Come in."

Elodie pushed open the door. Jarrod had just finished showering and changed into fresh clothes; he stood with his back to her, scrolling through his phone.

She stepped inside and noticed his suit jacket lying haphazardly on the rug beside the futon. Instinctively, Elodie stooped to pick it up.

Just then, Jarrod turned around. His gaze flicked to the jacket in her hands, and his brows drew together. "Don't touch my things again."

For years, Elodie had always been the one to iron his clothes by hand. Jarrod assumed she was about to take his jacket away to deal with it.

Elodie pressed her lips together and tossed the jacket onto the futon. "When are we_"

"Get some sleep," Jarrod cut her off, barely glancing her way as he checked his watch and strode quickly out of the room. Whether Elodie had something important to say didn't seem to matter to him.

His abrupt departure caught her off guard.

She'd lost her chance to talk to him about the divorce.

As for what could make him leave in such a hurry-other than Sylvie, she couldn't think of a single person.

a car horn

Alexander had sent her a

gala the night after tomorrow. The room will be full of industry heavyweights. It'll be good for

replied with a simple "Okay," then grabbed a change of clothes from the wardrobe and settled

in the middle of the night. Elodie spent a good while calming her down

company. After combing through the mountain of documents, she'd even managed to organize a set of strategic guidelines,

receive such a high-level technical brief from someone who'd only had a few days with

knowing glint in his eyes. "This is nothing. You have no idea how in demand she was back then. The top universities-here and abroad- were all

skeptical. "Come on, Mr. Sterling, you're at the top of the game here. Is

offering no

talent, his own father would never have been so furious about her quitting

What a waste.

can't tell a diamond from

formal evening attire, but Elodie didn't own a single designer gown. She'd spent three years revolving around Jarrod, and with their secret marriage, there was never a reason-or an occasion to dress up. The only gown she had was a birthday gift from Jarrod's

received the gown, Jarrod had gotten a matching suit-his cufflinks set with green stones to match her dress, a

chance to wear her dress, and Jarrod never

makeup, Elodie's face was pale. She dabbed on extra blush to hide her exhaustion, then slipped