How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod's eyelashes trembled.

It was like a blade spinning in his mind, slicing through his confusion, jolting him awake.

He saw it now-it had been his own rushed, stubborn misinterpretation that made Elodie fall silent back then, not any resentment over his blame. The truth was, he never deserved her honesty.

"Elias told me," he said, lips barely moving. The words tasted bitter, self-mocking, the ache in his chest impossible to ignore.

Elodie didn't look surprised. "Good. Then you probably understand by now."

She knew there were some things she didn't need to say-Jarrod would handle them himself. After all, the child wasn't just hers.

Still, she hadn't expected that when all was said and done, it would feel this easy

to let go.

As for her illness...

"Come overseas with me for treatment. Please?" Jarrod's focus narrowed to just her illness now.

grim prognosis and risk. It was more than

earned her forgiveness yet, hadn't given her the life she deserved. There was still so much time ahead; he wouldn't let her face her pain alone

anguish and regret in his eyes, so

We've already discussed my treatment plan. He's an oncologist-just as good as anyone

But the words caught in his throat. He understood how hard it was for any woman to make that decision. Telling her that he didn't care about having children wouldn't make it any

cared

"Cancer?" he echoed.

"What cancer?"

door

stood in the doorway, his face ashen, clearly having heard everything.

rushed Elodie out of the Royal Opulence Hotel earlier, Ivan had followed, uneasy, and spent ages outside wrangling with Jarrod's assistant before finally slipping

expected to

"What's that supposed to mean? What are

doesn't belong, maybe you should go home and keep an eye on your wife. Stop spreading other people's business around and causing

now, Elodie couldn't look at Queenie's

meaning immediately, his eyes brimming with emotion. Elodie's injury, the trouble with the child-Queenie

His mind was spinning, fixated only on the shocking news that Elodie's name and cancer could