How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

As the announcement echoed through the hall, Sylvie's curious expression froze, then slowly shifted to stunned disbelief. She turned toward Elodie, who was already rising from her seat.

A collective gasp rippled through the audience as Elodie stood, but it was quickly drowned out by a surge of applause from the students at the back of the hall. The school had warned them there'd be a groundbreaking segment today, and since the university had purchased access to the research database, they'd already read the paper in question. Every single one of them had been blown away.

Now, realizing the author was none other than Mr. Sterling's student, their excitement reached a fever pitch. This level of genius was something they could only admire from afar.

Jarrod watched Elodie's calm profile, eyes narrowed with interest. Sylvie's heart pounded erratically-her mind blank, unable to process whether this was a dream or reality.

Grady, having noticed the look on Sylvie's face, remembered what she'd said about the paper being authored by a renowned figure in the field. Still, he couldn't help but blurt out, "There must be some mistake, right?" His words sounded

abrupt in the charged silence.

Alexander shot Grady a frown.

But the headmaster only smiled and turned to Elodie. "Ms. Thorne, would you please share a few words with your fellow students?"

Sylvie out of her

the podium, scanning the packed auditorium from her vantage point. Only now, in front of hundreds of peers and respected faculty, did she truly introduce herself. "Good afternoon, everyone. My name

followed her every move. Sylvie stared in shock as Elodie took the stage,

someone like Elodie be

hand resting lightly on the lectern, she spoke with measured confidence, her tone steady yet powerful. She broke down the most crucial points of her research with clarity, making even the densest material accessible to her peers. No one could deny the impact of her

about her-a subtle smile playing on her lips. Even in a hall filled with over a thousand people, even with

echoed in her ears, each word a jolt to her

back in his

her grip on her skirt, knuckles

listened just as intently,

and soothing, drawing everyone in until, all too

moment, the room was

filled the hall Students at the back even jumped