How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

He found it preposterous.

Especially at a time like this.

The child was the key.

What struck him most was Jarrod's tense attitude when they discussed the kid. Jarrod had looked ready to kill him-clearly, the child had to be—

Suddenly, Watts' expression shifted.

A belated realization dawned on him.

Jarrod... had he been faking it all along?

Playing a part?

A jolt of clarity shot through Watts. Jarrod was stalling for time-he must have already known Watts was somewhere in the city.

It all fell into place.

Watts' face darkened, thunderous and grim.

So, when his men reported that Jarrod had already boarded a plane out of the country, it was probably just a smokescreen too.

Watts abruptly hung up, spun on his heel, and dialed another number. "Prep the jet, now. We're leaving immediately!"

Not far away, hidden behind a leafy planter, Elodie had overheard every word.

Her heart pounded faster.

The child wasn't here.

Watts hadn't found him.

Which meant-the child was safe, out of Watts' grasp.

That realization sent a surge of hope and adrenaline through her veins, almost burning hot.

As Watts turned to leave, Elodie quickly slipped away, making her way back to her room. Her mind raced, searching for any and every possible escape route.

It would take time for Watts to get the plane ready.

She still had a window.

Nearly forty minutes ticked by.

The door swung open, and Watts strode in, his composure restored. "Change of plans," he announced flatly. "We're leaving today. Come on."

He didn't offer any explanation.

He had no intention of telling her the truth. Once she made her call home from Germany, it wouldn't matter what she knew.

Elodie betrayed not the slightest hint that anything was amiss, acting as if she was completely in the dark.

She nodded calmly and stood, slipping her phone silently into her pocket.

Outside, she saw a helicopter parked on the wide, manicured lawn nearby. The whirling blades sent gusts of wind roaring in every direction.

Elodie approached slowly and deliberately.

Watts glanced at her, then seized her wrist and started striding toward the chopper.

Elodie's brow furrowed in anger, and she tried to wrench free. But he was far too strong for her-barely breaking stride, he simply dragged her along.

Watts was armed and ready for anything; Elodie's face was set in an icy mask as they crossed the lawn.

When they reached the helicopter, Watts finally released her. "It's safe," he said. "Go on, climb in."

Elodie's voice was cool. "You first. Give me a hand up."

Watts didn't question it he nodded and turned to mount the steps.

In that split second, Elodie whipped out a long shard of glass, one end wrapped in a towel, from behind her back. Without hesitation, she drove it into his back.

Blood soaked through Watts' shirt in a spreading bloom.

He staggered, nearly losing his balance from the pain.

That was her chance.

Elodie bolted, sprinting madly toward the car they'd arrived in-she knew the keys were still in the

ignition if she could just make it

before the chaos of tending to Watts

broke out, she might make it out alive.

Her lungs burned; her heart hammered wildly.

Watts clung to the edge of the helicopter door, his face twisted with pain and fury. "Bring her back," he snarled at his men. "Don't hurt her."

He refused to believe Elodie could really escape.

He'd never told her, but his men were stationed on every street for blocks around.

Elodie pushed herself until her legs threatened to give out, every muscle shaking from the effort.

She wiped the tears stinging her eyes and kept running.

But her body couldn't take it—she crashed hard onto the grass. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she dragged herself up, desperate to keep moving.

Behind her, Watts' men were closing in.

She felt utterly spent, but she wouldn't surrender.

Just as she struggled to her knees, something thundered overhead.

She looked up.

And there, slicing through the sky, was a helicopter she knew by heart-a model

she'd helped design herself.

In that instant, her breath caught, her face frozen in disbelief.noveldrama