How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie instinctively glanced at the person beside her.

Suddenly, a strong, warm body pressed against her back, his arms wrapping her in a loose embrace.

His masculine scent overwhelmed her senses, scattering her thoughts.

Startled, she turned her head.

Jarrod was awake, eyes sharp and clear. He reached over her shoulder and took the phone from her hand.

He glanced down at Elodie in his arms, his tone calm. "No."

A pang twisted in Elodie's chest.

She was supposed to be the wife here, so why did she feel like some secret lover, sneaking around to avoid being caught?

Her back was pressed firmly against Jarrod's solid chest, the heat between them rising.

A flush crept up Elodie's cheeks. She struggled to slip out of his embrace.

Jarrod seemed to realize just how compromising their position was. He was the first to pull away, putting some space between them. "I'll call you back later," he said into the phone.

Once he hung up, his gaze shifted to Elodie.

She sat up as well, smoothing her expression into composure. "Sorry, I didn't realize it was your phone."

Jarrod let out a quiet, humorless laugh and moved toward the bathroom. "Then I'd appreciate it if Mrs. Silverstein could avoid that mistake in the future."

Elodie pressed her lips together, understanding the unspoken warning.

He was worried Sylvie would get the wrong idea... or perhaps he suspected she'd done it on purpose?

Elodie frowned, knowing any explanation would sound hollow.

She gathered her clothes, preparing to get ready for the day.

Jarrod emerged just as she was about to pass him. Earlier, when he'd held her, he'd noticed how frail she felt, and now, without makeup, she looked even paler.

walked by, he suddenly asked,

froze, her heart skipping

want me to take you to see a

hit her then-he'd noticed how unwell she

Jarrod know about her illness.

it would only give him another excuse to

her

moment, straightening his tie. "If my

that instant,

appearances for his grandmother, worried she'd complain about his

already

Elodie a pot of nourishing soup. Elodie couldn't bear to let her efforts go to waste, so she forced herself to drink some, even though

don't you and Elodie leave together?" his grandmother suggested. Jarrod paused

thank you, Grandma. I have to go the opposite direction

glance at

had no intention of going with Elodie,

heading off to meet

a few days ago was

She left with Jarrod.

spoke on the phone and said, "I'll be really busy from now on. I won't be coming back

were already divorced. No matter how she explained things to his grandmother, being called back to this house again and again would make things awkward for

would

course, she could still visit his grandmother

but there was no need to hurt the

getting into her car and driving away. He frowned

the phone, Maurice's voice rang out in surprise. "What's this, Elodie threatening you by refusing

really got a whole bag of tricks lately-classic

flatly, "Doesn't

by her apartment to freshen up and pull herself together before

next project was finally taking shape, and if all went well, it would launch by the end of

noon, Alexander brought Elodie along as a technical

wasn't until she arrived that

entered the lobby, Elodie immediately noticed a group not

clung to a man's arm,