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?

world had changed; they'd both changed. There was no going

grimly, had cared for Elodie with

into his bones, until his phone buzzed in his pocket. Queenie's name flashed across the screen-call after

He ignored them all.

the Jett family's empire unraveling.

had to be settled one way or

lost a dangerous amount of blood. By the third day, she still hadn't

seemed to grow

own room, instead spending nearly every moment

he tucked the blanket gently around her. "Wake up soon, alright? Let's start over. You've lost so much weight. When

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

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

hand and studying the way the

pretend I didn't notice. I've been holding on to this ring for long enough. Why don't you

now on, let's never take

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