How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

How could he not see the determination in Elodie's eyes?

She hadn't even tried to placate him-not even a hint of the careful, calculated words she might have used with their child. She wanted no ambiguity, no confusion; she was resolute.

He found himself wondering, just how deep did Elodie's disgust for him go? Had

all those happier years between them been nothing more than her sense of obligation? Or had they ever truly loved each other at all?

And now, at this moment-

The child was gone. How was her heart holding up?

He had his answer, more or less.noveldrama

There was no way to make peace with it. And aside from Ivan's divorce, he couldn't find any other reason to blame. Not even self-deception could soften the blow.

Elodie herself wasn't sure what expression she should wear, whether about this accident or about what Jarrod thought of her. She felt drained, body and soul, too tired to even speak.

Jarrod stood up, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. "When you've recovered, and when your work at the research center is finished... when that time comes, I'll cooperate with whatever you want."

With those words, he turned and left the hospital room.

Right now, he simply couldn't face her.

This was his thirtieth year, and never once had he imagined he'd ever feel a pain like this, a pain that carved straight through his chest. Grief, anger, a sense of unraveling-he felt it all. But what right did he really have to demand answers from her?

After all, it wasn't a crime not to love him.

Elodie didn't call him back. As for explanations-what could she even say?

Jarrod had already made up his mind about what had happened. And besides, what could she possibly explain? They were in a hospital, after all. Was she supposed to claim the doctors had plotted against her? She had no proof, nothing to lean on.

She rested a trembling hand on her abdomen. People always said there was a bond between mother and child—and now she felt, with an aching clarity, that the only being who shared her blood had slipped away.

How could anyone expect her not to feel sorrow?

She wasn't a machine. People feel things-there are a thousand shades of grief.

Even knowing that, even if the accident hadn't happened, there was never any guarantee she could have kept the child. Still... it was her child.

Elodie closed her eyes. Her nerves buzzed with pain, a sharp, relentless noise that refused to let her rest.

She didn't even notice the tears running down her cheeks, soaking silently into her pillow.

Jarrod hadn't really left.

He'd walked out and sank heavily onto a chair in the corridor, legs leaden.

Leaning back, he stared up at the overhead lights-still burning into the early hours. He barely moved.

When Esmeralda returned with

some personal items for Elodie, she

spotted Jarrod sitting there. The

man who was always so composed, so untouchably dignified, now looked utterly lost.

She didn't know what had passed between them, but she could guess it hadn't ended well.

With what happened to the baby... well, for a proud, stubborn man like Jarrod, this must have been the breaking point.

Esmeralda felt a pang net

for Elodie, but there were some things she simply couldn't interfere

roblems went fan deeper

than just this.

She ignored Jarrod and slipped quietly into the room to sit with Elodie.

Elodie said nothing. The night dragged on in silence.

At dawn, Esmeralda got up around six, planning to make some breakfast for Elodie.

She stepped out and saw Jarrod still sitting in the same chair. He hadn't left all night.

He didn't look like he'd slept, either, and his face was pale and drawn.

After some hesitation, she offered quietly, "This isn't the outcome she wanted, you know."

Jarrod's lashes flickered. He glanced at Esmeralda, his eyes cold and remote. She didn't press. With a quick nod, she turned and walked away.

Jarrod's whole body ached with exhaustion and numbness. He stood up, stared for a long moment at the door to Elodie's room, then finally turned to leave.

On his way down, he took the escalator. On the opposite side, Elias glanced over at him, curiosity flickering in his gaze.

Latham, walking beside Elias, shot Jarrod a thoughtful look as well.

Elias turned to his friend. "What's up?"

Latham blinked, coming back to himself. "Oh, nothing. Let's go check on Ms. Thorne."

He'd just finished his night shift, and by coincidence had bumped into Elias.

He'd heard something had happened to Elodie. After all, he'd met her several times while treating her uncle, and since Elias knew her, Latham figured he should stop by to see how she was holding up.