How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

She turned her head, hastily wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. That's when she suddenly realized something was on her finger.

Looking down, she saw it-the wedding band she'd taken off long ago.

Now it was back, slipped onto her finger as if it had never left.

The rush of old memories made her dizzy for a moment.

Jarrod noticed her surprise. "I didn't get to put that ring on your finger myself the first time. After all these years, Elodie... don't take it off again, okay?"

A heaviness settled over Elodie's heart.

To be honest, she'd worked through a lot during Jarrod's days in the coma.

Seeing the ring now, she didn't even feel the urge to reject it anymore.

But at the moment, her mind was somewhere else entirely.

She'd pushed herself down so hard for so long, never letting herself break or cry, never giving herself an outlet.

The tears had caught her off guard, triggered by Jarrod hitting a nerve she'd kept hidden for years.

All her life, there'd never been anyone who chose her-truly chose her-without hesitation.

Not even Malcom, not even Ivan.

Malcom had always given his attention to his illegitimate daughter; Ivan's love always came with conditions.

So, for as long as she could remember, the only thing she'd truly wanted was her own child, someone who would be bound to her, someone who'd always choose her in return. She and her child, forever facing the world together.

But Jarrod

the man she'd fallen out with so badly, yet

her life felt absurd. Things never lined up the way she

turned away, and when he caught sight of her tear-streaked face, something inside him cracked. He couldn't help but reach out to gently wipe a tear from her chin. "You want to keep testing me? Go ahead-I'll take whatever you

brushed his hand away, her fingers unconsciously tracing the diamond ring on

away. He leaned in again, cupping her face in both hands, carefully wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "You need to focus on getting your strength back. The wound might be small, but after being sick for so long, you need time to recover. Once

"What news?"

can't say yet. It's not

and gave up trying to get a straight answer out

the storm

that afternoon, Rosemary stopped

bed on her own and take care of

the same time, she heard some

1.n

bastards in a hospital now too," Rosemary grumbled, her hands shaking with anger. "He got himself into trouble-someone finally decided to get back at him. Broke every bone in his arms and legs, I heard. He's

spoon hovering over the bowl

"Revenge?"

enemies. Now that he's fallen from grace,

suspected it wasn't

about to be arrested, someone made

his age? He'd never be able

His life was over.

stopped hoping for anything from Malcom

the memory

forcing her over that

only