How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 438

The elderly lady was still in her study, glasses perched on her nose as she practiced calligraphy.

Jarrod glanced in, noting how energetic she looked. "Have you taken your medication?"

She paused, pen hovering over the paper, and peered at him. "On time, as always. What brings you back so early?"

He shrugged off his coat and leaned against the doorframe with an easy smile. "So I'm not needed around here? Should I start filing a request before visiting you next time?"

She gave a dismissive snort. "Don't be cheeky."

Jarrod grinned, undeterred. "Your birthday's coming up. Have you and Elodie made any plans? It's only once a year-you should take the chance to relax."

He spoke unhurriedly, as if nothing could ruffle him. "Not yet."

She set her pen down completely, folding her hands on the desk. "You're both always so busy. Why not take a trip? Elodie's always wanted to visit Switzerland, hasn't she? You never did take her. It should be beautiful this time of year. And as you young people say, quite romantic."

The snow season had passed, but cherry blossom time was just as charming.

Jarrod didn't answer right away, gently reassuring her instead. "I can't get away from work right now, so we'll skip the trip. And please don't call Elodie about it. We'll make our own plans."

She shot him a glare. "Busy, busy, busy! Since when is work more important than your wife?"

He only met her gaze quietly, the corners of his lips quirking upward.

huffed in defeat, finally relenting. “Just... take better care of Elodie, will

to clean the ink from her

The next day.

email: her paper had

a submission of

journal's prestige, the editing process

have to adjust the formatting

be fast-tracked online

the internal meeting, Elodie mentioned the news to Esmeralda and

bound to make waves in the field. With that level of quality, the citations are going

count

imagine they'll speed up the publication process now," Elodie mused. The swift review

her arms. "Didn't Sylvie just submit something in the same area? She really doesn't know how to tone down the theatrics. to Publishing alongside you-she's

since they worked in the same field,

strengths, weaknesses, everything.

Alexander nodded in agreement.

"Even if Sylvie's a

once-in-a-generation genius, you'd

a hundred

you'd find another