How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Even Elodie had to admit the whole thing felt rushed.

Her engagement ring had fetched a small fortune at auction, yet his own ring-the one he'd wear for her had been thrown together so casually?

She couldn't say why, but suddenly, Elodie found herself wondering about

Jarrod's state of mind back then.

He'd done so much for her behind the scenes, pouring his heart into it.

But Jarrod was never the type to parade his devotion. When he cared for someone, he didn't count the cost or expect anything in return.

Looking back, it seemed everything between them had been carefully, almost painstakingly orchestrated by him.

She even questioned-if not for all the things Jarrod quietly did would their bond have been so deep?

"You really know how to keep things bottled up," Elodie said quietly, stepping closer. She looked up at his refined features, gaze intent and searching.

Jarrod met her eyes, unwavering. "So should I be looking for some credit? Is it too late for that?"

Elodie's lips quirked in a faint smile, but she didn't answer. Instead, she stepped forward again, and before Jarrod even realized what was happening-she wrapped her arms around his waist, not too tight or loose.

With her eyes closed, Elodie rested her cheek against his chest.

In this moment, none of it seemed

soon, okay? When you're well,

would be a

life

to realize so many things. There was no point blowing up the small stuff or clinging to the

the present-and whatever

anymore: Jarrod had broken through her defenses, again

always told herself she didn't love him, but really, that feeling had just been buried, hidden behind

never the truth. At the time, she'd just reached her limit,

moving forward, step by step, as if to show

warmth through his shirt, her arms around his waist making

he

"Elodie?"

was soft, almost a whisper. "don't do this

goes, together."

tremble and swell, filling him with a

arms around her waist and pulled her close, his voice husky with emotion. "That's all I've

each other, but somehow, through all those years, they'd never truly loved each other

how precious

still sorting through her feelings,

childhood had shaped her, made her