How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 427

"They're staying at that hotel too-it's the official venue for the conference. If you're uncomfortable, I can talk to the front desk and see if we can switch somewhere else."

Alexander was always mindful of Elodie's feelings. He'd hoped this trip would be a chance for them to relax and have some fun.

"No need," Elodie said, shaking her head. "It's got nothing to do with me. We'll have our own space, and as long as our doors are closed, it doesn't matter what anyone else does."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jarrod and his group sat down at a table not

far away.

There was an invisible but unmistakable line drawn between the two parties.

They had barely settled in when a little girl with neatly braided hair appeared, clutching a bouquet of freshly trimmed roses. She approached Jarrod shyly, drawn to him, and pulled out a single rose to offer him. "Mister, would you like to give this flower to the lady?"

Jarrod glanced down at the little girl.

Sylvie, sitting beside him, couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Why's that?"

The girl was of mixed heritage, her skin a shade darker than the average white child.

At Sylvie's question, she looked up at Jarrod, earnest and serious. "Aren't you two boyfriend and girlfriend? A gentleman should always give beautiful flowers to a lady."

Sylvie was instantly charmed by the little girl's sweet manners. She accepted the rose and turned to Jarrod, who sat across from her with his usual quiet dignity. "Well, Jarrod, do you like it?"

"I'll buy the entire bouquet," he said kindly. "But we can't take all of them, so why don't you share the rest with other

beaming as she darted from table

a string of

found its way to Elodie's table. The girl placed it gently beside her and whispered, "Miss, that gentleman

paused, her cup of coffee halfway to her

glanced instinctively across

gaze, Jarrod looked up at

Their eyes met unexpectedly.

frowned and looked away, casting a sidelong glance at the rose-but she left it

noticed the exchange but didn't mind. After all, Jarrod had bought the flowers for her, and if Elodig ended up with a

she was no different from any other diner who'd received a flower

further attention to

little girl was about to leave, he called her over and handed her two more

girl, caught off guard by her luck, nodded enthusiastically and hurried off to

the entire bouquet on the chair beside Elodie. "They're all

stared at him,

how old are you? she thought.

and Elodie's phone buzzed

it was Watts calling-despite the late hour in Eldermere, it

it

"Mr. Aldridge?"