How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

The sudden, suffocating silence in the room felt like a vice tightening around everyone's throat. It was almost unbearable.

Elodie faced her suffering head-on.

She watched helplessly as her beloved grandmother and uncle turned deathly pale.

Not wanting her illness to become their source of grief, she forced a small smile. "It's uterine cancer, but don't worry. I'm getting good treatment, and I have one of the best doctors. I'll... do everything I can to get better."

Her words brought a breath of air into the stifling atmosphere.

Her grandmother, stunned, collapsed onto the couch in a daze, too shocked to even react.

Lucinda's brow furrowed in disbelief.

Uterine cancer...

Didn't that mean... Elodie might never have children?

But Jarrod was the only one who didn't move.

All color had drained from his handsome face. His lips parted, but no sound came.

It took several tries before he finally managed to choke out, "...When did you find out?"

Elodie met his gaze.

Only then did she notice his eyes-bloodshot, filled with a desperation she'd never seen before. Jarrod, who always seemed invincible, looked completely shattered. He still hadn't let go of her wrist.

He was trembling.

He was terrified.

He was hurting.

clear, despite the pain racking her body. "The day Sylvie Fielding returned to the country-the

body jolted as if struck. His eyes went unfocused, and his

was as if the last glimmer of

He hadn't been by her side. No wonder...

down, she'd given up on

that moment, the world outside seemed to fade for

ears drowning out everything

even

watche

from sniffling. She knew just how much Elodie had endured. That knowledge made her loathe anyone who'd ever hurt her even if they'd claimed it

stepped forward, wanting to reach out, but she was so overcome with grief that she could only sob, "Don't be afraid, darling. I'll be right here with you. Medicine's come so far everything

struggle with cancer had taught him how grueling treatment could be. At least he'd always had Elodie and Rosemary by his side. But...

own husband had

in years—she'd already lost her daughter, and now

was gravely ill. She couldn't

to

blood pressure

shifted in alarm.

rushed forward to support the

me get Grandma to the hospital,"