How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Ivan's mind was a blank.

He'd suspected something was wrong with Elodie's health, but it was the truth about the past that had truly crushed him, leaving him with nothing but ashes where his heart used to be.

He hadn't been outside for long when Queenie arrived, practically running.

She'd been keeping tabs on Ivan for a while now, refusing to let him have even the slightest contact with Elodie.

And yet, here he was-she'd just gotten word that Ivan had gone to see Elodie again.

The moment she stepped out of the car, Queenie stormed over, her voice trembling with rage. "Ivan! How could you do this to me? If it weren't for you and Elodie, would I have lost my baby? Why are you still seeking her out?"

She was beside herself, the recent trauma of losing her child still raw, leaving a jagged wound on her heart.

In her mind, both Ivan and Elodie were to blame.

If Elodie hadn't given Ivan the chance, he never would have clung to hope.

Ivan just stared at her, silent.

Queenie, trembling with fury, hurled her purse at him. "This is cheating, Ivan! The wedding was only postponed because of the baby, but we're still getting married. You can't keep betraying me—"

Crack.

raised his hand

stared in shock at

"You"

something. I wanted to do right by you, since you were 'innocent' in all this. But now, Queenie_" Ivan's voice was low and biting, every word spat out

anger in his eyes

you

Harcourt family-you're all snakes in the same pit." Ivan stepped

every last

pain he felt he realized-they

calm. "I

only cold and full of loathing. "No need

soon as Ivan left, the hospital room

Elodie. Instead, he silently stood up

turned, hiding the stiffness

her hands around the cup, watching him. "When

avoided her gaze, gently adjusting her IV line. "Not

I

was selfish didn't