How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 169

Elodie's reaction was stronger than she let on. Even with her composed expression, her instinctive recoil and the way she brushed Jarrod's hand aside betrayed her discomfort.

It was pure reflex.

Jarrod stopped in his tracks.

Bathed in the soft glow of the bedside lamp, his deep-set eyes seemed colder, more inscrutable.

He hadn't missed the subtle shifts in Elodie's mood.

He drew his hand back, his tone cool and even. "Fine. Suit yourself."

Turning away, Jarrod sank onto the leather sofa nearby. He reached for a cigarette, fingers searching for his lighter. But then he paused, frowning, and instead slid the cigarette back into its case.

Elodie didn't protest about taking her medicine. She threw back the covers, grabbed the pills Jarrod had brought, and swallowed them all in one go with a gulp of water.

As for the box of dried cranberries he'd left on the nightstand she didn't touch it.

Jarrod noticed that, too.

After all, they'd been married for three years. Elodie's health had never been robust; she was no stranger to migraines and fevers. Usually, she'd fuss forever before taking her medicine-afraid of the bitterness, reluctant to swallow anything dry. She'd eat handfuls of dried fruit or candy just to get a single pill down.

hadn't even looked at

bitter pills without a flicker

had she stopped

go of the ring. She looked at Jarrod, coming straight to the point. "I came back today to ask if

did Jarrod glance at her, his

know what he meant by that. Her hands clenched tight as she blurted, "I'll pay whatever you

gave a faint, dismissive laugh, eyes dark as ink. "Do you really think I need your

Elodie, but before she

is she

The door opened.

entered

you still feel unwell? Jarrod told me

a turn for the worse. The moment she woke

guilt gnawing at her for making the old woman worry. "Grandma, I'm fine now. It's still early-why don't you get

age, she shouldn't be losing sleep over things like

these days. It's good for me to get

Elodie hesitated, then nodded.

asleep before nine and hadn't eaten since.

before saying, "I'll have them make some nourishing soup-you'll feel