Esmeralda genuinely didn''t want Elodie to get tangled up with Jarrod any further, especially not with something like this. In her mind, the oue was already set -this child would never be born.


    Why make things moreplicated?


    Elodie had long since made up her mind. She shook her head lightly. "No need. Let''s just pretend none of this ever happened."


    For one thing, their paths were clearly destined to part. For another, her health wouldn''t allow this child to survive. Telling him would only create more trouble— whether it was the push and pull of whether to keep the baby or the mess of her illnessing to light. She was done with unnecessaryplications.


    There was no reason for Jarrod to know.


    Her body, her decision-the choice was entirely hers.


    Only then did Elias nce at Elodie, his expression briefly softening. Just as he''d suspected, there were bigger problems between her and Jarrod than anyone let


    on.


    "I know things must feelplicated right now," Elias said gently. "Don''t worry. Take your time, get your head straight, and when you''re ready, we''ll schedule with gynecology to take care of things." He wasn''t about to pressure her once she''d decided on the procedure, it wouldn''t have much impact on her future health.


    "Thank you." Elodie kept her eyes lowered, her body wracked with chills, though her face betrayed nothing.


    But inside, the pain was deep and abiding.


    She''d hoped and waited for so long. None of it happened overnight.


    But the child hade at the worst possible time.


    She had no way to keep this baby.


    And she would need time-time to ept reality.


    "I have some urgent work deadlinesing up," she said after a moment. "If I have the procedure right now, I''m worried I won''t be able to handle the workload afterward. I''d like to wait two more weeks and get through this first phase before scheduling the surgery."


    She''d just started her new job at 719, and with her cancer on top of this, if she added the procedure now, she''d almost certainly end up bedridden.


    If she could just finish this first round of work, she''d have a window to recover.


    Esmeralda, who knew all too well how Elodie had struggled these past years, sniffed and said, "Your healthes first. Everything else is secondary. Nothing is more important than you."


    Elodie just smiled, quietly resolute, though beneath it all, there was a trace of bitterness.


    Elias nced again at her pale, delicate face, lips pressed thin in worry. In the end, he couldn''t help but offer, "Once the surgery''s done, I''ll do my best to help with your treatment. There''s still hope for a good recovery."  s?novel


    After a brief pause, he checked the time. "Since you''re pregnant for now, we''ll need to adjust your


    medications to reduce any side


    effects Once the procee


    and you''ve had some time


    recover, we''ll move forward with the tumor surgery."


    At the very least, the medications shouldn''t conflict with her current condition. Otherwise, she''d be risking a cascade ofplications before even making it to surgery.


    Elodie''s body couldn''t take much more.


    She nodded. "Alright. Thank you."


    Elias wrote her a new prescription.


    Once she had the medication, Esmeralda apanied her downstairs.


    As they stepped into the main lobby, Elodie came face-to-face with Queenie Jett, whose pregnant belly was unmistakable.


    Queenie held some medical paperwork in her hand. The moment she saw Elodie, her expression turned frosty.


    Queenie had never liked Elodie—especially after thest time Ivan Harcourt caused such a scene. It was almost impossible for her not to take it out on Elodie.


    Ivan had been out drinkingst night, got himself utterly wasted, and now he was suffering from stomach pains, which hadnded them at the hospital.


    Elodie didn''t so much as nce her way.


    But Queenie stopped her. "Elodie, our wedding''s next month. I still need a bridesmaid. You should do it—as a gesture that you sincerely wish Ivan well."


    Elodie froze in her tracks.


    Even Esmeralda gaped at Queenie, incredulous. "What, don''t you have any friends? Inviting Elodie—is this some kind of sick joke?"


    Queenie ignored Esmeralda and fixed her gaze on Elodie. "Ivan and I went to high school together. Then college. We loved him for years, but your presence cost us all that time. You never should have taken up his life and his time back then. So, aspensation-and to make a clean break-you should stand by me as my bridesmaid. That way, we can both finally have peace of mind."