How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 687

Some decisions simply can't be stopped by a few words.

His head throbbed so badly it felt like it might split open, but sleep was out of the question. Every time Jarrod closed his eyes, all he could see was Elodie's cold, indifferent face—her expression chiseling itself deeper and deeper into his mind, relentless as a jackhammer.

He sat in the nursery for two hours, motionless, lost.

When he finally stood up, he left the room and rummaged through a cabinet until he found a half-finished pack of cigarettes and a lighter he'd stashed away. He didn't look at Cara-just muttered, "Can you make a few nourishing dishes? The kind Elodie likes. Give them to Hosea and have him take them to the hospital."

Cara noticed something was wrong. "Is Mrs. Sterling ill? I could deliver the food myself, if you'd like."

"That won't be necessary. The driver can handle it."

Jarrod's voice was hoarse as he bit down on a cigarette and bowed his head to light it. His hand trembled ever so slightly, and it took him two or three tries before the lighter finally sparked. Without another word, he stepped out onto the balcony.

Cara had worked for the Silverstein family for more than a decade, so she'd seen her share of drama. But never had she seen Jarrod look so defeated, so weighed down by grief-his gloom was almost frightening. Still, she knew better than to pry into the affairs of her employers.

Elodie spent two days in the hospital.

Not once did Jarrod show up during that time. Instead, his driver appeared a few times, dropping off meals three times a day. It was as if Jarrod himself had vanished from the face of the earth.

Elodie didn't ask after him. When she was discharged, she returned to her apartment complex without a word.

intended to keep it from him, especially now that she'd stopped going to VistaLink Technologies. She'd always assumed Alexander would be calmer and less impulsive than Esmeralda, but when he showed up in a rush, his eyes were red. He glared

was still recovering, and Alexander, worried and

last, he blurted out, "You're stopping all work, effective immediately. Focus on getting treatment and nothing else. Stop worrying

a tragedy, but right

had expected this

the work on Project 719 and then I'll

understood, but it didn't make things easier. He stared

was just too stubborn. That's why she hadn't

make her quit was

down

unfair the

Elodie's shoulders. "Handle what you can with 719. Graduate school is starting soon and you have no energy to spare. I'll talk to the old man and have your

he was right; there was no other way for

least two weeks off to rest and recover. Even after such a loss, she needed time

long as there was work to do

uncles. Their phone calls were brief,

decided to stay and look after her. As for the

Jarrod again. He'd vanished as completely as