How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 654

Esmeralda stared at the message, her face freezing as the reality of the word "chemotherapy" sank in.

She turned abruptly to look at Elodie, bewildered.

Elodie had just looked over, and immediately noticed Esmeralda's eyes were brimming with tears, threatening to spill over. Alarmed, she reached out to gently wipe them away. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Without a word, Esmeralda handed her the phone. "What does this mean?"

As Elodie read the text from Elias, her pupils quivered, and her words caught in her throat.

She couldn't make a sound.

"Elodie! What's going on? Chemotherapy? Another scan? What... what's happening to you?" The gravity of those words finally crashed down on Esmeralda. Her tears broke loose, and her voice rose, as if by sheer force she could will Elodie to explain it away, to tell her it was all a misunderstanding. Elodie swallowed hard, forcing a weak, bitter smile. "I... I have uterine cancer."

The moment the words left her mouth, it was as if Esmeralda's world had crumbled. She stood in stunned silence, until finally she forced herself to face the truth.

Then she broke down completely. "When did this happen? If I hadn't seen this, when were you planning to tell us?" Her voice trembled with anger and heartache as she dissolved into sobs.

Elodie had known this was coming; she'd predicted exactly this reaction. Esmeralda had never faced a crisis, and she wore her heart on her sleeve.

Elodie looked down, guilt written all over her face. "It's been a while. I was going to wait until the 719 Project was finished to tell you."

nor Alexander would have let her

yourself? Elodie, how could you be so hard on yourself?" Esmeralda wiped at her tears, her

dab at her cheeks. "Don't

swiping at her face, as if she could suddenly shoulder the weight

didn't argue. She quietly entered the hospital address into

silent, Esmeralda wiping away tears as she drove, for

chatter was gone, replaced by a heavy, anxious

a tangled, indescribable

at the hospital, Esmeralda grabbed Elodie's hand, ready to lead

Elodie hesitated,

palm "Esmeralda, I need to stop by

gynecology department fir

shock. "Why do you need

it anymore. "I want

eyes widened in disbelief. "Pregnancy? You think

kept coming,

could only shake her head. "I'm

Esmeralda's mind

she refused to let

herself. She took the forms and hurried from deskto