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.

speak, steady and 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 I

eyes went unfocused, and

glimmer

doing then? He hadn't been by her side. No wonder... Elodie had never mentioned her

given up

seemed to fade for Jarrod. His

his ears drowning out everything

couldn't even forgive

watche

ordeal, and 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

overcome with grief that she could only sob, "Don't be afraid, darling. I'll be

His own struggle with cancer had taught him how grueling treatment could be. At least he'd

even her own husband had

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

was gravely ill. She

began to

pressure

shifted

rushed forward to support the

get Grandma to the hospital," he