How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Hearing those words from Jarrod's lips—those three simple words—used to be all

she ever dreamed of.

But now, when they came so suddenly, Elodie, even as she could see the

sincerity in his eyes, still found herself stunned. Jarrod didn't give her time to think

or react. He held her hand, his thumb brushing gently across her skin, and spoke

each word with care, "For the best chance at recovery, your uterus... Let's remove

it, alright?"

He paused, took a breath, and continued, "Let's not get divorced, okay? I'll make

sure you get the very best treatment, I'll find the top specialists in the world for

you. I won't let anything happen to you. Whether or not you can have children in

the future... it doesn't matter to me. I've never cared about whether you could

bring me any 'value' that way. All I want is for you to be healthy. This time, please

—just listen to me, alright?"

He tried to soften his voice, his gaze almost pleading, because he couldn't bear

the risk of any more setbacks or tragedies. The thought of Elodie suffering

through a painful recurrence was unthinkable.

Elodie was quiet for a long while. The truth was, she hadn't made her decision

yet. When it's your own body, hesitation comes naturally. Once, she might have

just felt heartbroken but would have decided quickly: just take it out. But after

got to be born, she was left with a lingering sense

to her, pulling at

the bed, suddenly feeling

about it," she

watched her closely, easily sensing her sorrow. But

the matter. She closed her eyes, trying to rest. Jarrod stayed by

saw her

her hand and whispered, almost too softly to hear, "So

by stress... I won't deny

me a bit more time. If I could, I'd trade my life to make

the next day, Elodie was feeling better, so

Jarrod for

others, and spared them from seeing her in such

She didn't want

Elodie back to Rosemary's old family

in private, so he didn't intrude. He

before getting back into his car and

Mansion.

still ongoing, but as

had a rough idea of what he needed to

give the family matriarch an

no avoiding a visit.

stepped into the courtyard, he immediately noticed

recognize parked out front.

the drive with

and entered

he'd suspected, there

was

with Lucinda and

turned, arching an eyebrow at him with

smile. "You're back?"

from Patricia. He stood up to pour her

gaze warm

after reconciling