A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes as he fixed Jarrod with a steady gaze. "Her uterus-there's something abnormal. Something that shouldn't be there."

Jarrod didn't look surprised. He slowly lifted his eyes, meeting the other man's stare. After a brief pause, he replied in a voice only the two of them could understand, "Yeah. You've probably guessed right."

Elodie was transferred into the private suite next to Jarrod's.

A steady stream of people came and went from the room.

At the end of the hallway, Ivan stood, watching the bustle from a distance.

He'd arrived the moment Elodie went into surgery. Deep down, though, he knew he had no real right to stand as family.

No matter how he turned it over, he owed her too much.

Now, seeing Elodie safe and out of surgery, it felt as though a weight had finally lifted from his chest-like he'd been given another chance at life.

Ivan walked out to the hospital's smoking area. His hands shook as he lit a cigarette, then he let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh.

Who was he kidding?

changed; they'd both changed.

he realized grimly, had cared for Elodie with a

a long time, letting the cold seep into his bones, until his phone buzzed in his pocket. Queenie's name flashed across the screen-call after

He ignored them all.

the headline screamed scandal, the Jett

to be settled one

dangerous amount of blood. By

meanwhile, seemed to grow stronger by the

go back to his own room, instead spending nearly every moment

her. "Wake up soon, alright? Let's start over. You've lost so much weight. When you're better, I'll make sure you get your strength

spoke whether or not she could hear him, pulling a file folder from the bedside table and

single ring. He tipped it into his palm, then slid it onto

studying the way the

I could only pretend I didn't notice. I've been holding on

never take

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