How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 677

Elodie's mind drifted back to the doctor's words.

A healthy pregnancy with a high-quality embryo was an entirely different experience-factors from the father's side, both genetic and physical, were absolutely crucial.

No wonder, she thought. Even with her illness, she hadn't suffered any of the usual discomfort. The little one was so quiet and well-behaved inside her that, if not for a few subtle hints, she might never have realized she was pregnant at all.

Her irregular periods—just another consequence of her condition—had masked everything, leaving her blind to what was happening inside her own body until

now.

Jarrod noticed her lost in thought, eyes lowered, and gently ruffled her hair. "If you're craving anything, just tell me. I'll come by every day and cook for you. Trust me, it's far less awkward than having someone else fuss over you."

He could see Elodie was truly thinking about the baby.

He didn't believe for a second that she disliked this child.

He was certain of it.

Not wanting to disturb her appetite, Jarrod set down his apron and quietly stepped out.

Left alone, Elodie was startled from her reverie by the faintest movement in her belly-a sensation so delicate, she almost thought she'd imagined it.

But the pull was real; it snagged at some deep, maternal chord within her, setting off a flood of emotion she couldn't contain-whether it was hormones or something else, she didn't know.

face remained calm, but her eyes grew red and damp without a

had come

any rash decisions. She wouldn't sacrifice her own life for this child. Even if she wanted the baby to enter the world,

lived that kind of

it would never be

admit that. But in her position, she had no

two days passed in

her eyes, Jarrod was already bustling around

stove in her modest apartment, making breakfast, tending to every detail

thought of everything he even squeezed the toothpaste onto her brush. Elodie kept

Jarrod would just look at her and say, "You can pretend I'm not here. If I were you, l'@take advantage-order

even seemed to delight in offering

be moved, and tried

her routine as usual-heading to

said a

effort to interfere with her work

interfering" didn't mean letting

personally driving her to the

could tell that Jarrod

considering

illness