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.

a word, Ivan suddenly raised his hand and slapped

staggered, clutching her cheek, and stared in shock at the man before her-his expression

"You"

right by you, since you were 'innocent' in all this. But now, Queenie_" Ivan's voice was

hate and anger in his

are you talking

stepped closer, his gaze dark and menacing, gripping her jaw tightly "A

score with every last one

felt he realized-they

wide-eyed, tried to force herself calm. "I

of loathing.

left, the

he silently stood up and

kept his face turned, hiding the stiffness and heartbreak

her hands around the cup, watching

line. "Not long after I found out what

all I saw

selfish didn't want to