How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 684

How could he not see the determination in Elodie's eyes?

She hadn't even tried to placate him-not even a hint of the careful, calculated words she might have used with their child. She wanted no ambiguity, no confusion; she was resolute.

He found himself wondering, just how deep did Elodie's disgust for him go? Had

all those happier years between them been nothing more than her sense of obligation? Or had they ever truly loved each other at all?

And now, at this moment-

The child was gone. How was her heart holding up?

He had his answer, more or less.

There was no way to make peace with it. And aside from Ivan's divorce, he couldn't find any other reason to blame. Not even self-deception could soften the blow.

Elodie herself wasn't sure what expression she should wear, whether about this accident or about what Jarrod thought of her. She felt drained, body and soul, too tired to even speak.

Jarrod stood up, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. "When you've recovered, and when your work at the research center is finished... when that time comes, I'll cooperate with whatever you want."

With those words, he turned and left the hospital room.

Right now, he simply couldn't face her.

This was his thirtieth year, and never once had he imagined he'd ever feel a pain like this, a pain that carved straight through his chest. Grief, anger, a sense of unraveling-he felt it all. But what right did he really have to demand answers from her?

all, it wasn't a crime not

back. As

had already made up his mind about what had happened. And besides, what could she possibly explain? They were in a hospital, after all. Was she supposed to

child—and now she felt, with an aching clarity, that the only being who shared her blood

her not to

wasn't a machine. People feel things-there are

the accident hadn't happened, there was never any guarantee she could have

nerves buzzed with pain, a sharp, relentless noise that refused to let her

didn't even notice the tears running down her

Jarrod hadn't really left.

heavily onto a chair in

up at the overhead lights-still burning into the

When Esmeralda returned with

personal items for Elodie,

sitting

who was always so composed, so untouchably dignified, now looked

didn't know what had passed between them, but she could guess it

well, for a proud, stubborn man like Jarrod,

a pang

but there were some things she simply couldn't

roblems went fan deeper

than just this.

and slipped quietly into the