How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 440

Elodie had no intention of giving Watts any false hope. She cut straight to the point, her words clear and direct.

Watts wasn't surprised. After spending time with her, he'd learned enough about Elodie's personality to expect as much. He wasn't the type to pine away in silence, nor did he see rejection as some world-ending event. If he liked someone, he believed he should also respect their right to follow their own heart -whether that meant saying yes, or no.

So-

Watts looked at her, eyes soft. "I understand."

"Feelings aren't something you can force just by confessing them. If I can't show you I'm sincere, why should I expect you to accept me?"

Elodie considered this before replying, "Mr. Aldridge, it's not about testing you. I really just don't have those kinds of feelings for anyone right now. It isn't personal."

Watts could tell she wasn't trying to string him along; even her rejection left no room for ambiguity.

But-

Wasn't that part of what made her so admirable?

He didn't feel discouraged. Instead, he smiled, his expression easy and open. "Alright. Then, can I ask you to temporarily forget that I said I want to pursue you? Let's just be friends. If you start avoiding me because of this, I'll admit, I'd be a little sad."

Elodie had never met a man quite like Watts before.

was direct and honest, full of warmth, and completely comfortable in his own skin—a product of growing up

she'd made herself perfectly clear, and

we end up working together again, there's no need to feel guilty about turning me down. You don't owe me anything, and I

he'd put it that way, Elodie didn't

to mince words

her attention back to the data

feel hurt, not

fair and focused, a faint

taking things slow wasn't such a bad idea after

her again. He

Elodie was heading to her car when she spotted Watts standing by the curb As she approached, he greeted her without missing a

His assistant,

Global were nowhere

looked completely unfazed. She couldn't very

so she nodded. "Sure.

your way is fine. Just drop me off wherever

hesitated, but decided not to press the

the drive back toward the Global Trade Plaza, Watts didn't let any awkwardness linger. He steered clear of personal topics and instead chatted about work-topics he knew