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.

didn't care; if he didn't love

hadn't even noticed when she was hurt-what

red, humbled eyes for a

unable to hold back, finally stepped

Fleming interrupted coldly, casting Esmeralda a sidelong glance before turning and

say

Esmeralda froze.

face changed in

Was Fleming really going?

Esmeralda rushed after him.

was already striding toward

a surge of hope and a

ache that

Tears spilled uncontrollably.

Fleming had agreed to enter the conflict zone-but only because she'd traded their

for her, but to escape her-and to run to

sat on the floor. Her laughter dissolved into

her

it, ran a hand through

turning back

a mix of exasperation and a restraint, he said, "Do you have any idea

Esmeralda didn't know.

point, it didn't

If they just sat around waiting for rescue, the risk

refused to sit back and

do was

The car kept moving.