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.

he suddenly asked, "Are you

froze, her

uncharacteristically concerned. "Do you want me to take

her then-he'd noticed how unwell

unwilling to let Jarrod know about her illness.

only give him

surprised her all the

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

in that

appearances for his grandmother,

had already

bear to let her efforts go to waste, so she forced herself to drink some,

and Elodie leave together?" his grandmother suggested. Jarrod paused and looked

remembered the phone call from earlier. "No, thank you, Grandma. I have

cast a glance at Jarrod, who didn't bother to

of going with

heading

memory of being stranded on the roadside a few days ago

She left with Jarrod.

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

No matter how she explained things to his grandmother, being called back to this house again and

would

still visit his grandmother

was over, but there was no need to hurt the old woman's

just in time to see Elodie getting into her

voice rang out in surprise.

really got a whole bag of

"Doesn't matter

freshen up and pull herself together

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

a technical consultant for

The Jett Group. It wasn't until she arrived that Elodie

Elodie immediately noticed a group

clung to a man's arm, chatting easily with the TerraGreen