How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

The voices from the living room conversation continued to drift through the hallway, but Elodie could barely make out the words anymore.

She didn't say a thing-just slipped away silently, unnoticed. Her face blank, she walked quietly to the bottom of the stairs.

A dizzying wave of disbelief crashed over her, so overwhelming it left her reeling. For a moment, all rational thought was swept away, replaced by a thousand tangled emotions.

Of course she couldn't believe it.

When things began to unravel between her and Jarrod, she'd convinced herself that having a baby would fix everything. She'd wanted it desperately-a new life, a fresh start for them both.

But as week after week slipped by, what she longed for never came.

Deep down, she'd known. Her body had been through so much, making pregnancy difficult-maybe not impossible, but certainly not easy. She'd told herself that with time, with care, it could happen naturally.

But never-not in her darkest imaginings-had she considered the possibility that while she was waiting, Jarrod was quietly making sure it wouldn't.

Elodie gripped the banister, pressing a hand to her chest as she tried to breathe through the onslaught of hurt and anger.

She fought to tamp down the feelings threatening to spill over, but it was nearly impossible. The bitterness was suffocating.

And so, even though she'd promised herself she wouldn't dwell on the past after the divorce, that she wouldn't demand explanations or drag things out, she found herself losing the battle against her own pain.

She turned and climbed the stairs, her steps quick and determined. Heading straight to the master bedroom, she pushed open the door.

Jarrod was inside, tablet in hand, talking on the phone. He turned at the sound, catching sight of her eyes rimmed red but face cold and composed.

He didn't move, just held the phone to his ear, eyes fixed on her.

The moment she saw his face, every emotion she'd tried to bury came rushing back. Elodie strode across the room, her slender arm flying up before she even realized it, aiming a slap at his flawless face.

Jarrod didn't flinch. He simply gazed at her, dark eyes cool and unblinking, watching her hand as it hovered in midair.

For a heartbeat, her hand froze. She met his eyes and her anger faltered, her hand trembling in the space between them.

Reason reasserted itself, her lifelong self-control pulling her back from the edge. She couldn't quite bring herself to hit him.

Jarrod noticed her hesitation. He bent down slightly, turning his face so her raised hand almost touched his cheek. "I'm not moving. Why stop now?"

His voice was calm, almost amused. The posture was so intimate it could have been mistaken for a caress.

Elodie stared at him, her palm still tingling with the heat of his skin. The absurdity of it all made her want to laugh, or cry, or both. She lowered her hand.

Jarrod straightened and silently ended his call, setting the tablet aside. “First time you've ever lost your temper with me," he said, his

expression unreadable. "Wel

happened? Can you at least tell me what's going on?"

She looked at him as if she'd never seen him before, her tone cold: "I never managed to have a child. Was that your doing, Jarrod? Give me a reason."

She forced herself to keep her composure, needing at the very least-an answer for her own sake.

A flicker of something passed through his eyes as he set down the tablet and leaned against the back of the couch. "What do you want me to say? What answer would make you feel better?"

He wasn't denying it. Not even trying.

Elodie's mouth twisted in a bitter smile. "If you didn't want a child, you could've just said so. There was no need for all the games."noveldrama

Jarrod's gaze hardened. "Do you really think you were in any state to have a child back then?"

Her expression grew colder still, but he pressed on quietly. "You know yourself better than anyone, Elodie. Why were you forcing this?"

Maybe he realized the words were harsh; he paused, then looked at her with a touch more softness. "That's the only answer I have for you."

For a moment, Elodie couldn't gather her thoughts. She knew, somewhere deep down, that she hadn't been well not really.

But still...