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.

full of warmth, and completely comfortable in his own skin—a product of growing up abroad, perhaps,

made herself perfectly clear, and as for

have to worry about me. Just keep being yourself. If we end up

it that way, Elodie didn't dwell on it.

was never one to mince words or

attention back to the data on her

feel hurt, not

let his gaze linger on her profile, fair and focused, a faint smile tugging at his

wasn't such a bad idea after

to be done, and Watts didn't interrupt her again. He went back to his own tasks, finishing up what needed to be

when she spotted Watts standing by the curb As she approached, he greeted her without missing a beat. "Elodie mind giving

His assistant,

Global were nowhere

looked completely unfazed. She couldn't very well refuse

day, so she

"Anywhere on your way is fine. Just drop me off wherever

hesitated, but decided not

He steered clear of personal topics and instead chatted about work-topics he knew Elodie cared about. She