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 night you threw her that birthday party. That's when

if struck. His eyes went unfocused, and his lips

last glimmer of

He hadn't been by her side. No wonder... Elodie had never mentioned her illness to

she'd given up on

seemed

his ears drowning out everything

even forgive

watche

couldn't stop herself 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 was for her own

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

and scholarly, looked shaken. His own struggle with cancer had taught him how grueling treatment could be. At least

even her own husband

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

gravely ill. She

to clutch

blood pressure

expression shifted

rushed forward to support

Grandma