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."

but she finally

progress on the Nexus Analytics campus

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

So Elodie let him.

until late,

lot, just before getting into her car, she checked

Jarrod's message was waiting.

cool composure that had

phrasing, she could

his words did

had happened the day she got her diagnosis; it was

of them had misunderstood each

fireworks on her birthday,

delivered to

left unnoticed-what was

not to understand now?

all been from

they both carried

only find expression

Elodie hesitated, then replied:

*Are you feeling better?*

her phone screen and

about to get in, hurried footsteps scraped across the pavement behind

she tried to duck into the car without

whoever was

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

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