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.

suddenly asked, "Are

froze, her heart skipping

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

then-he'd noticed how

Elodie refused, unwilling to let Jarrod know about her illness. If

only give him

her

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

in that instant,

cared about keeping up appearances for his grandmother,

his grandmother had already returned

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

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

thank you,

a glance at Jarrod, who didn't

he had no intention of

knew Jarrod was heading off

the memory of being stranded on the roadside a few days ago

She left with Jarrod.

the housekeeper and his grandmother were gone, she watched Jarrod's back 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 make things awkward

would

she could still visit

was no

time to see Elodie getting into her car

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

really got a whole bag

replied flatly, "Doesn't matter to

up and pull herself

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

noon, Alexander brought Elodie along as a technical consultant for a meeting at TerraGreen

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

the lobby, Elodie immediately

clung to a man's arm, chatting easily