How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue novel Chapter 3

"Ivan!"

A woman's delighted voice shattered Elodie's thoughts. She brushed past Elodie and threw herself straight into Ivan's arms. Ivan instinctively caught her, letting her cling to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.-

"Do you know how long I've waited for you?" she exclaimed, her voice full of giddy affection. "If you hadn't come out soon, I swear my dad would've dragged me off to marry someone else!"

Ivan's gaze lingered on her face as she pressed a kiss to his lips. He smirked. "That desperate, huh? Well, tell your driver to wait outside later—I'll send your father a little thank-you note myself."

She giggled and clung to him, refusing to let go. "You're terrible! My dad wants you to come over, says he's dying to meet you, and wants to throw you a welcome dinner…"

Elodie was rooted to the spot, staring at the scene in a daze.

A slow, creeping embarrassment and helplessness washed over her.

The Ivan who'd once been gentle and attentive, who used to make her the center of his world—had he ever really existed, or was it all just a decade-long dream?

A dull ache started to throb in her stomach.

It felt as if a knife had sliced through time and stabbed her all over again.

—"Elodie, I don't want to be registered as a Harcourt. I don't want to be your brother."

—"When you're an adult… will you marry me?"

The echo of his gentle voice lingered in her mind, leaving her dazed and unsteady.

"Watch out!"

A sharp warning jolted her back. Elodie turned just in time to see a motorcycle tearing toward them.

Without hesitation, Ivan pulled the woman back, shielding her with his body.

Elodie had to scramble out of the way on her own, stumbling as she covered her face. Her ankle twisted painfully.

"You?" Ivan glanced over at her, his eyes dark and searching, a flicker of worry and uncertainty crossing his face.

"I'm fine…" Elodie managed, turning away before tears could fall. She ran off, swallowing her pain.

The woman watched her go, curiosity sparking. "Who was that?"

Ivan hesitated, then lowered his head, brushing her lips with a kiss as he cupped her chin. "Looked like someone I used to know."

Someone he used to know…

Someone he'd spent years growing up with. Someone he'd once promised to marry.