How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

When Elodie woke up, she felt weak and lightheaded, her limbs heavy as lead. As she stirred, Freya's voice rang out in relief, "You're awake! Are you feeling okay? Anywhere still hurt?"

Elodie turned her head. "Why are you here...?"

Freya helped her sit up, fussing over her. "My brother and I brought you to the hospital. He's gone to print your test results. We were worried something was wrong, so we had them run every check-"

"What floor is he on?" Elodie's face changed. She threw off the covers and got out of bed.

Freya blinked in surprise. "He's right on this floor."

Ignoring the lingering ache in her body, Elodie hurried out.

She made straight for the self-service printer in the hallway. Sure enough, Joseph was there, waiting as the machine spat out paper.

Elodie rushed over and yanked the report out before he could react, clutching it tightly.

"You're awake?" Joseph looked both surprised and concerned. "What are you doing out of bed?"

heart was still racing, and she pressed her lips into a tight line.

gaze, hesitated a moment before handing it over. "Sorry. It was urgent. I went through your bag to get your

He hadn't noticed anything unusual in the report. Only then did she finally breathe out, just

couldn't, wouldn't risk it. If Joseph found out about her condition, Jarrod

to her family, use her illness as

wasn't ungrateful. "How much were the medical bills?

his lips together. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing. You still look pale, though. The

Nothing serious," Elodie replied, her voice

you were unconscious, you

in her sleep, whispering softly as if

pain had she endured to

today. Still, send me the

message—she

me take you home. It's

shook her head. "That's not necessary. I'll

cool detachment drew a clear line between them. Joseph pressed his lips together,