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, "Are you feeling

froze, her heart

uncharacteristically concerned. "Do you want me to take you to see

then-he'd noticed how unwell she

Jarrod

would only give him another excuse

surprised her all

a moment, straightening his tie. "If my grandmother asks, just tell her what

in that instant,

appearances for his grandmother, worried she'd

grandmother had already returned from her

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

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

earlier. "No, thank you, Grandma. I have to go the opposite direction for

cast a glance at Jarrod, who

that he had no intention of going with Elodie, and she was

heading off to

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

She left with Jarrod.

as he spoke on the phone and said, "I'll be really busy from now

explained things to his grandmother, being called back to this house again and again would

Jarrod would

could still visit his

there was no need

turned just in time to see Elodie getting into her car and driving away.

other end of the phone, Maurice's voice rang out in surprise.

bag of tricks

flatly, "Doesn't matter

up and pull herself

Alexander. Their next project was 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

until she arrived

the lobby, Elodie immediately noticed a

arm, chatting easily with the TerraGreen Solutions