How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 509

"Lie down over there. I need to take a look," Elias said, gesturing toward the examination table behind him.

Elodie nodded and climbed up, settling herself as Elias came over and met her gaze. "No need to be nervous. You can lift your shirt a little."

She knew this was just a routine checkup, so she didn't fuss-she simply unbuttoned her blouse a bit, baring her abdomen.

Elias's expression turned serious as he worked. His fingertips pressed gently but firmly on her lower belly, expertly feeling for any abnormalities.

From the palpation, he got a general sense of her current condition.

When he glanced up, he saw Elodie lying there with her eyes squeezed shut and her lips pressed tightly together, as if bracing herself for impact.

Almost like she was giving herself a pep talk.

For some reason, Elias suddenly remembered Naylor Whitaker, who used to pester him with stories about Elodie-painting her as capable, fearless, almost invincible. Even with Naylor's scattered anecdotes, Elias could imagine exactly what Elodie had been like back then.

But now...

He looked again at Elodie, forcing herself to relax, eyes closed tight.

She seemed, for once, like any other young woman her age.

faint, silent smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head and finally drew his

sharp breath, relief plain on her face. She pulled her shirt down and

-half expecting each time the pressure would make her break out

new medication is doing well in trials. If all goes smoothly, you could start next week. It's targeted for your type of cancer-should

genuine surprise

as things could

she would have

time she

all the doctors could say was

risk

desk, then added,

afraid. If I tell you I'll

was, in fact, the first time

even when families pressed for guarantees, he'd never promise success-no matter how confident he was. He'd always say, "I'll do

But with Elodie...

thought maybe, just this once, giving her real hope wasn't such

inside. No one

Elias's quiet certainty

it felt like