How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod's intentions couldn't have been clearer.

His words landed softly, but the sting they left behind was sharp and unmistakable.

Ivan fell silent, suddenly and completely.

He stared at the invitation in his inbox.

The anger and resentment that had been burning in his eyes slowly faded, leaving behind only resignation—a helplessness so deep he couldn't even fight it.

Ever since he'd learned that Elodie, not someone else, had been the one to save him all those years ago, he'd known the truth deep down.

There was no going back for them. Not ever.

Still, he clung to those foolish hopes, those impossible dreams.

He'd let Elodie down-failed her in every way, whether as family or something more. He had no right to linger in her life, no right to burden her with his regrets.

He glanced at the little airplane keychain on his desk—the one Elodie had crafted by hand and given to him. He'd once shown it off to Queenie Jett, wanting Elodie to notice, but in the end, he couldn't help but take it back for himself.

"Did Elodie ask you to send the invitation?" Ivan asked quietly, eyes fixed on that tiny airplane.

her anymore. Whether your name is on the guest list or not, she doesn't care. Still,

a bitter laugh. "Mr. Silverstein, why bother dressing it up? Do you actually

disdain for him was obvious. This wasn't an invitation-it was a warning, a display of triumph. Ivan saw that clearly. If he did go, he knew it would only sour Elodie's special

the point? To ruin her happiness? To cast a shadow over her perfect

his expression unreadable. "Whether you come or not makes no difference to us. Whether you give your blessing or not, I'm going to make her happy.

Ivan's chest, leaving him

words, Jarrod

that needed to be

van to see, once and for all, that he had no place in Elodie's life-never had, and never would. Those brief moments of childhood kindness had never truly helped her; all he'd ever done was bring her pain and trouble, all while convincing himself he was acting out of love. It was selfish, always had

at their lowest-through divorce and heartbreak-Ivan had never dragged Elodie down with him. Deep down, he'd always wanted the best for

her free, unburdened, soaring as high as

and tried to hold on in all the wrong ways. That was a

destination, Esmeralda was still busy with a

showed her the video

Jarrod actually did something

did make

well, there'll be other children." But Jarrod had done everything possible to save this one. What

That love-puře, determined, and