How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Lucinda's face froze in shock, her usually cool and striking features unraveling

into unguarded disbelief. For a long moment, she seemed at a loss for words.

Then her expression hardened, incredulity replacing confusion as she fixed Jarrod

with a stare. "Do you even hear yourself? All this over a woman? Is it really worth

it-"

"When Dad had other women, you certainly didn't react like this."

Jarrod's words cut in, leaving no room for doubt.

Back then, he'd been caught in the crossfire of their bitter relationship more times

than he could count.

He wasn't even ten when Lucinda and his father started fighting in earnest. But

both families cared deeply about appearances and reputation-their marriage

was a show of unity, so in public they played the part of a loving couple, while in

private their arguments were explosive and relentless.

He remembered thinking how exhausting it all was.

Neither of them cared about anyone but themselves, whittling away at each other,

day after day, year after year.

Jarrod knew Lucinda had suffered her share of heartbreak in marriage. But he

couldn't accept that she would knowingly hurt Elodie, standing so firm and

righteous-even though she herself had once been in such a position. Any

compassion she might have had was now locked away, unreachable.

Lucinda's voice trembled with anger, her beautiful face

that exposed all the

keep arguing. The pain of the day was already pressing down

glanced at her, his tone quiet but unyielding. "My

stayed out of my

it won't matter."

to the driver to wait

she

didn't say another word

into the room,

to messages

up when she heard him

happened-as if Lucinda had never even

there.

walked over and gently touched Elodie's

to the hospital, she'd been running a fever, but now

seemed much better.

to talk

going through?"

low, weighted

No matter how

felt, he needed to

everything-inside and out-about

Elodie's condition.

replaying what Jarrod had

was obvious to anyone. Jarrod was

family because

had a

she said quietly,

"I've been lucky;

lost my hair. Other

not much to say.

I wake up

pills, and the