```

It felt as if he'd been gutted, left with nothing but an empty shell.

A long, heavy silence settled between them.

Lucinda was the first to break it. "Can we talk?"

Jarrod's eyes were icy. "Go ahead."

Lucinda led him to a quiet alcove, then looked up at him. "Your grandmother's worried sick-she's been calling, but you didn't pick up. I managed to calm her down and keep her from coming over to make a scene."

After all, it was supposed to be a birthday celebration.

Not that it hadn't already descended into chaos.

"How's Elodie doing now?" Lucinda glanced toward the patient rooms, her expression conflicted.

She'd never really approved of Elodie before, but she'd never imagined someone so young would fall seriously ill.

resting. The pain's under control for now." Jarrod pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to

is the diagnosis? Uterine cancer?

prognosis is uncertain." Jarrod

The next question left her lips before she could stop herself. "Will

turned to look

lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "What do

about his tone confirmed Lucinda's

And especially not by choice-because you're forced into it. You're at the helm

few people

for a

being pragmatic-pointing out a

Jarrod throwing

a solution," Jarrod said, his

face flushed at the

and maybe that's true-for a while. But ten years from now, twenty years from now, you'll change. You'll start to resent her and regret the choices you made

when regret

security. Without that, it's just a matter of time

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255