How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod finally lifted his eyelids and glanced at his pampered little sister. "How old are you again? You sure think a lot for someone your age.”

Octavia huffed. "Come on, you should be grateful! I'm not joking, you know. I'm eighteen now. After I graduate, I'll just try to find someone handsome and gentle- someone who's at least a decent match for the Silverstein family. It'd be good for us, and at least I wouldn't drag the family down. I could even give you all a cute, healthy baby to spoil. But I've decided, he shouldn't come from a family as powerful as ours—just a little less, so if I have a child, they wouldn't have any grounds to complain."

Jarrod: "..."

He realized, to his surprise, that Octavia was actually serious.

She'd even thought through the details, probably burning through more brain cells than he cared to imagine.

"There's no need. Our family doesn't need you to worry about that." He couldn't be bothered to entertain Octavia's wild notions any longer, and turned to check on Elodie.

That's when he noticed she was awake-he hadn't even seen her open her eyes.

She was lying there, quietly listening to them talk.

Jarrod's gaze softened. He immediately reached for her hand. "How are you feeling?"

Elodie had actually been awake for a while, her eyelids heavy, unable to open them until now.

She'd heard every word Octavia said, clear as day.

And with that, there was nothing left she didn't understand.

dry and

though her mind was still foggy from being unconscious, her first instinct was to check Jarrod for any sign of injury. She remembered vividly how

in hospital clothes, so it was impossible to see what was underneath, but he seemed to be doing

out a silent sigh of

Thank goodness.

he

Elodie awake, immediately fidgeted with her backpack and scratched at her hair. "Should I

looked to Elodie for

out of the ordinary. After several days, even

said first, shaking

Elodie could speak just fine, Octavia fiddled with her fingers, grumbled, "Okay, then I'll leave you guys to it. I've got things to do anyway. See

was

let her

behind Elodie's back. "Want some

abdomen and turned to him.

met her gaze, and after

removed earlier today, before

couldn't quite

she

that instant. She'd

outcome,

when it