How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod stopped in his tracks at the sight before him, his dark eyes fixed on that number. For a long moment, he just stood there, finally exhaling a slow breath before composing a message to Elodie:

*Where are you? Want to grab dinner tonight? I can come pick you up if you'd like.*

He hit send.

Staring at the message thread for a while, Jarrod's long fingers slid across the screen, pinning her chat to the top.

Meanwhile, Elodie was in a conference at VistaLink Technologies, meeting with the tech department.

She and Galen, along with Alexander Sterling, were deep in discussion about the latest system optimization.

When Alexander noticed her joining, he couldn't help but grumble, “You just don't know how to take it easy, do you? You should be resting."

Elodie watched the rapid stream of data flickering across her laptop, a gentle smile touching her lips as she replied, "It's fine. Keeping busy helps, and besides, my surgery is more or less scheduled now."

Alexander set his folder down, frowning. "So, about the operation..."

He'd already heard some details from Esmeralda Mercer.

Elodie's case was serious.

She might need to have it removed.

Elodie's lashes fluttered briefly as she jotted down another set of numbers. "Whatever needs to be done, we'll do it."

Alexander saw through her calm to the unease beneath. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "As long as the surgery goes smoothly, nothing else matters."

Her gaze wavered, but she finally nodded.

When the tech department meeting wrapped up, progress on the Nexus Analytics campus still needed oversight.

But Alexander insisted on handling that himself; he wouldn't let her go, no matter what she said.

So Elodie let him.

She lingered at VistaLink Technologies until late, finally getting ready to head home.

Downstairs in the parking lot, just before getting into her car, she checked her phone.

Jarrod's message was waiting.

She read it with a cool composure that had become second nature.

Just from the phrasing, she could picture his tone.

Truthfully, his words did stir something inside her.

Especially after what had happened the day she got her diagnosis; it was clear

now that both of them had misunderstood each other.

The fireworks on her birthday, the

that was delivered to h

left unnoticed-what was

not to understand now?

They must have all been from Jarrod.

What a pity, she thought. Back then, they both carried too much hurt, and even

their love could only find expression in secret.

Elodie hesitated, then replied:

*Are you feeling better?*

She switched off her phone screen and opened the car door.

Just as she was about to get in, hurried footsteps scraped across the pavement behind her.noveldrama

Her heart lurched. Instinctively, she tried to duck into the car without looking back.

But whoever was approaching was

faster she barely had time to react before a rough hand clamped over her mouth and nose, yanking her back with brutal force-

Jarrod saw Elodie's reply just as he finished changing clothes.

He knew her well enough.

Even if she hadn't answered directly-hadn't said yes or no to dinner or needing a ride-he could read between the lines.

If she'd truly wanted nothing to do with him, she wouldn't have replied at all. She would have ignored him completely.

A small, knowing smile flickered at the corner of his mouth. He typed back: *VistaLink Technologies?*

Before heading out, he stopped by the master bedroom's hidden walk-in closet. Inside were all the things Elodie had left behind clothes, designer bags, jewelry.

He picked out a cashmere wrap. Nights in Eldermere could get cold, and he doubted she'd brought much with her.

As he strode down the stairs, phone in hand, Cara caught sight of him preparing to leave.

"Mr. Silverstein, you're still not fully recovered. Where are you going?" she called after him.

Jarrod was about to answer when a new message flashed across his screen.

In an instant, his expression darkened.

*Elodie is with me. If you want her safe, do exactly as I say. Come alone to

this address. If you the

anything clever, I won't hesitate to destroy everything.*