How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

The conference venue was just across the street from the hotel, a short walk

away.

By the next morning, Elodie was feeling much better; her throat no longer felt like it was being raked by glass, though she still took another dose of medicine just to be safe.

After the symposium, there would be a cocktail reception.

The event was scheduled to run from three in the afternoon until around nine in the evening.

Around midday, the doorbell rang.

When Elodie opened the door, she was surprised to find Ivan standing there.

"You look a bit pale," Ivan said, frowning as he took in her makeup-free face and colorless lips. "Are you feeling alright?"

He reached out and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Did you remember to take your medicine? Want me to take you to the doctor?"

Elodie could tell from his eyes that his concern was genuine.

Still, she stepped back, avoiding his gaze. "Is there something you need?"

Ivan was the prospective son-in-law of The Jett Group, so it wasn't unusual he'd attend an event like this.

Noticing her distant manner, Ivan's brows drew together. After a moment, he handed her a gift box. "See if you like this. Tonight's event is formal, and I thought you should have something appropriate this necklace suits you."

landed on the

it," she

no for an answer and pressed the box into her hands. "You're stubborn, just like when you were a kid. I also wanted to ask

caught off guard-she hadn't expected Ivan to

away the year before Elodie got married. This year

probably hadn't kept track of the

at the event later," Ivan said, glancing at his phone as

ruffled her hair

to Elodie that, despite his genuine concern, there was a trace of perfunctory habit in

herself read too much

closing the door, she opened the box for

crescent moon and star diamond necklace. As a child, Elodie had always been fascinated by space-she'd devoured astronomy books and even bought herself a telescope to gaze

wonder Ivan had said

rare for him to remember her

frowning slightly. She didn't really have any jewelry with her this trip, and certainly nothing suitable for a

she slipped into the evening gown Esmeralda had given her, did her makeup, fastened the necklace around her neck, and headed

side of being

arrived at the venue

up with industry leaders

front of the grand hall, a massive screen displayed highlights of the

the footage shifted to the U.N2 Integrated Strike-and- Detection Drone, which was a featured

raised his brows. "See that? After all these years, you're still leading the field. If you hadn't taken time off for marriage, who knows where

was one exception, and