How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

When Esmeralda spoke, her voice trembled, her bright eyes shimmering with tears—a look that was equal parts stubbornness and desperate pleading.

She seemed to have staked everything on this; there were no other options left. Fleming's expression darkened.

He simply pressed his lips together, staring at Esmeralda. There was surprise in his gaze, a mix of disbelief and shock.

Esmeralda took a deep breath, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. A

life was at stake-she couldn't afford to waste another second.

"Fleming, I'm not joking with you. I mean every word. I've never been more

serious. So, I'm begging you."

Letting go of Fleming wasn't something she could do easily.

But now, with Elodie's fate uncertain and their communication down, reaching out

for help had become next to impossible.

This country was always unpredictable. She couldn't take any chances.

Right now, the only way into that restricted zone was from above.

"Fleming, I've never asked you for anything. Just this once-can't you accept my offer and let the engagement be the price?"

She wasn't a fool.

She'd just been lying to herself all this time.

care; if he didn't

hadn't even noticed when she was hurt-what more could she

into her red, humbled

to hold back, finally stepped

interrupted coldly, casting Esmeralda a

say anything

Esmeralda froze.

face changed in

Was Fleming really going?

Esmeralda rushed after him.

striding toward the

pounded wildly-caught between a surge of

that left her

Tears spilled uncontrollably.

agreed to enter the conflict zone-but only because she'd traded their engagement for

but to escape her-and to run to

doorframe, sliding down until she sat on the floor. Her laughter

these years, her failure was

it, ran a hand through his hair

turning back to

exasperation and a restraint, he said, "Do you

Esmeralda didn't know.

this point, it

If they just sat around waiting for rescue,

refused to sit back and

she could do was

The car kept moving.