Jarrod stopped in his tracks at the sight before him, his dark eyes fixed on that number. For a long moment, he just stood there, finally exhaling a slow breath before composing a message to Elodie:

*Where are you? Want to grab dinner tonight? I can come pick you up if you'd like.*

He hit send.

Staring at the message thread for a while, Jarrod's long fingers slid across the screen, pinning her chat to the top.

Meanwhile, Elodie was in a conference at VistaLink Technologies, meeting with the tech department.

She and Galen, along with Alexander Sterling, were deep in discussion about the latest system optimization.

When Alexander noticed her joining, he couldn't help but grumble, “You just don't know how to take it easy, do you? You should be resting."

Elodie watched the rapid stream of data flickering across her laptop, a gentle smile touching her lips as she replied, "It's fine. Keeping busy helps, and besides, my surgery is more or less scheduled now."

Alexander set his folder down, frowning. "So, about the operation..."

He'd already heard some details from Esmeralda Mercer.

Elodie's case was serious.

She might need to have it removed.

Elodie's lashes fluttered briefly as she jotted down another set of numbers. "Whatever needs to be done, we'll do it."

Alexander saw through her calm to the unease beneath. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "As long as the surgery goes smoothly, nothing else matters."

gaze wavered, but

up, progress on the

insisted on handling that himself; he wouldn't let her go, no matter what

So Elodie let him.

at VistaLink Technologies until late, finally getting

the parking lot, just before getting into her car,

Jarrod's message was waiting.

it with a cool composure that had become

phrasing, she could picture

did

after what had happened the day she got her diagnosis;

them had

on her

was delivered

left unnoticed-what was

not to understand now?

have all been

she thought. Back then, they both carried

could only find

Elodie hesitated, then replied:

*Are you feeling better?*

her phone screen and

to get in, hurried footsteps scraped across the pavement behind

tried to duck into

whoever was

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

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