How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie's mind went completely blank for a long moment.

She could taste the faint bitterness of whiskey on his breath as his lips pressed against hers-Jarrod's kiss was rough, insistent, and she was powerless to resist. It wasn't until he tried to part her lips that she jolted back to herself, adrenaline

surging.

She shoved him away, hard.

Scrambling off his lap, she tugged her rumpled nightdress back into place, her eyes suddenly cold. "Jarrod, you're drunk. I'm not Sylvie."

Jarrod blinked slowly, startled awake by her sudden resistance. He took in the disapproval on her face, and a reluctant clarity sharpened his dark gaze. His brow furrowed, as if this was the last outcome he'd expected-especially seeing Elodie's rigid posture.

He glanced around, as if only now registering his surroundings, then straightened and massaged his temples, his voice low and rough. "What time is it?"

Elodie's heart was still racing. She hadn't been touched like that in ages, and the intimacy left her uneasy-especially considering what they were to each other now. On top of that, the humiliation of being forced to swap dresses in front of everyone, and now being mistaken for Sylvie, left a bitter taste that crept up her throat.

"It's after ten," she replied.

"Alright. No need to return the call tonight. Tomorrow's fine."

Jarrod stood, his tall frame suddenly imposing, casting a long shadow across the room. He shot Elodie a fleeting glance but didn't mention what had just happened. "Get some rest."

With that, he grabbed his coat and strode out, his departure hurried, as if something urgent needed his attention.

Elodie guessed he must be mortified about confusing her with Sylvie-he'd probably wake up tomorrow, wracked with guilt for letting things get out of hand. As for that slurred, "I missed you," she'd never seen Jarrod act so unguarded before. She supposed he was simply used to being inseparable from Sylvie, tangled up in that sort of clinging affection. With her, things had always been different. Even in their most intimate moments, Jarrod was never tender; he treated their time in bed like an obligation, never once holding her afterward.

forced herself not to dwell

she

morning, they had a set time

after sunrise, her grandmother called. "Elodie, are you

her coffee mug,

are you heading back to the city?

hesitated. She and Jarrod rarely traveled together anymore, and she wasn't sure

let me know. I'll have someone bring

"...Okay."

chatted a bit

flight. Maybe she should check with him about his arrival time in

She dialed Jarrod's number.

times

you need?" Sylvie's calm, almost

second, but quickly regained her composure. "It's nothing. Don't worry about

simply hummed in reply and

head slightly. Jarrod really

as private as his phone—he let

Noticing his phone was out of battery, she'd plugged it in for him. He'd looked at

could still feel the sting of that moment—his sharp gaze, the sense of humiliation. He'd always drawn boundaries with her, even when her intentions were

were