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.

she walked by, he suddenly

froze, her heart

concerned. "Do you want me to take

noticed

refused, unwilling to let Jarrod know about

it would only give him another

her

Jarrod studied her for a moment, straightening his tie. "If my

that

only cared about keeping up appearances for his grandmother, worried she'd

grandmother had already returned from her

couldn't bear to let her efforts go to waste, so she forced herself

leave together?" his

the phone call from earlier. "No, thank you, Grandma. I have to go the opposite direction

cast a glance at

no intention of going with Elodie, and she was

heading

on the roadside a few days ago was still fresh; she wasn't about to risk a

She left with Jarrod.

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

matter how she explained things to his grandmother, being called back to this

would

she could still visit his grandmother

no need to hurt the

see Elodie 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 drama

replied flatly, "Doesn't matter

stopped by her apartment to freshen up and pull herself together before heading to

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

Alexander brought Elodie along as a technical consultant for a meeting at

of The Jett Group. It wasn't until she arrived that Elodie learned Ivan was now in

Elodie immediately noticed

woman clung to a man's arm, chatting easily