How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

The staff over in Obstetrics moved quickly. Elias barely had time to catch his breath after carrying Elodie into the operating suite and making sure she was settled.

He noticed the IV still taped to her arm. Pulling it out carefully, he pressed a cotton swab to the spot. Most of the medication was still in the syringe-it hadn't all been administered. That was probably the root of Elodie's problem.

Clutching the syringe, he stepped into the corridor just as two foreign doctors hurried toward him, arriving even faster than he'd expected.

This private hospital was renowned worldwide, famous for its discretion. Most patients here were either wealthy or influential, and the facility routinely employed top international specialists.

Now, Elodie was an emergency.

Every available doctor was being pulled in.

Elias didn't know either of these doctors personally, but they'd already finished scrubbing in.

Just as he was about to leave, he paused and glanced back at them. "The specialist this patient booked-she's not available today?"

He spoke in English.

One of the doctors nodded, "She needs an urgent procedure-everyone else is tied up, but don't worry. It's a straightforward operation."

Elias didn't bother to explain that Elodie's was a sudden complication, not a routine case. He just stepped out.

Judging by the circumstances, Elodie's pregnancy... had started to slip away.

Maybe there was a slim chance of saving it, but Elodie had already scheduled the procedure. Now, with this crisis-

It meant―

Her pregnancy would soon be over.

The operating room doors closed with a soft thud.

Elias stared at the illuminated sign above the door, then pulled out his phone and dialed Naylor Whitaker.

Naylor had just finished work and answered on the first ring. "Hey, man! Off early today?"noveldrama

Elias didn't waste time. "Do you have contact info for Ms. Mercer at VistaLink Technologies? Send me her number-I need to talk to her."

It was the first time Naylor had ever heard his cousin sound so tense, so desperate to reach a woman. He tamped down his curiosity. "Sure, I'll text it to you-sending it now-"

Elias hung up before he finished.

A moment later, the number arrived.

Elias called Esmeralda.

He told her something had happened to Elodie.

Esmeralda didn't hesitate; she rushed out of her house, driving as fast as she could.

By the time she reached the

hospital, she was out of breath, but she barely noticed. Racing up the corridor, she blurted out, "What happened to Elodie? Why was she taken into surgery all of a sudden?"

Elias met her gaze, pressing his lips together. "She... might not be able to keep the baby."

His words had barely left his mouth when frantic footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Esmeralda, mind reeling, turned to see Jarrod striding toward them, still dusty from travel.

His flawless face was pale, his dark eyes fractured and unreadable.

He walked straight to the door of the operating room.

The corners of his eyes reddened as he stared at the door, as if he could see straight through to Elodie lying on the table inside.

Esmeralda was stunned to see him. Hadn't Elodie said Jarrod was away on business, not due back until tomorrow?

"When did she go in?" Jarrod's voice was hoarse, brittle from holding himself together. He never looked away from the door, and it was clear-now that Elodie was inside, nothing could stop her.

Elias glanced at Esmeralda before answering, "About half an hour ago."

Jarrod didn't care why Elias was here. He knew Elias was a doctor, but his own

thoughts felt like they'd been carved out by a thousand knives, each breath heavier than the last.

Only one thing mattered:

Elodie didn't want their child.

She didn't want him, either.