How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

When Esmeralda spoke, her voice trembled, her bright eyes shimmering with tears—a look that was equal parts stubbornness and desperate pleading.

She seemed to have staked everything on this; there were no other options left. Fleming's expression darkened.

He simply pressed his lips together, staring at Esmeralda. There was surprise in his gaze, a mix of disbelief and shock.

Esmeralda took a deep breath, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. A

life was at stake-she couldn't afford to waste another second.

"Fleming, I'm not joking with you. I mean every word. I've never been more

serious. So, I'm begging you."

Letting go of Fleming wasn't something she could do easily.

But now, with Elodie's fate uncertain and their communication down, reaching out

for help had become next to impossible.

This country was always unpredictable. She couldn't take any chances.

Right now, the only way into that restricted zone was from above.

"Fleming, I've never asked you for anything. Just this once-can't you accept my offer and let the engagement be the price?"

She wasn't a fool.

She'd just been lying to herself all this time.

If he didn't care, he didn't care; if he didn't love her enough, that was the brutal truth.noveldrama

He hadn't even noticed when she was hurt-what more could she hope for?

Fleming stared into her red, humbled eyes for a long, silent moment.

Adrian, unable to hold back, finally stepped forward. "Fleming, this is—"

"Wait here," Fleming interrupted coldly, casting Esmeralda a sidelong glance before turning and walking away.

He didn't say anything more.

Esmeralda froze.

Adrian's face changed in disbelief.

Was Fleming really going?

Esmeralda rushed after him.

Fleming was already striding toward the helipad.

Her heart pounded wildly-caught between a surge of hope and a crushing,

suffocating ache that left her breathless.

Tears spilled uncontrollably.

Because Fleming had agreed to enter the conflict zone-but only because she'd traded their engagement for it.

He gave in, not for her, but to escape her-and to run to Lucy.

Esmeralda gripped the doorframe, sliding down until she sat on the floor. Her laughter dissolved into sobs.

After all these years, her failure was plain as day.

Adrian, unable to stop any of it, ran a hand through his hair in frustration

before turning back to Esmeralda.

With a mix of exasperation and a restraint, he said, "Do you have any idea what the consequences will be?" sŵnovel

Esmeralda didn't know.

At this point, it didn't matter.

This wasn't home. If they just sat around waiting for rescue, the risk would only grow.

She refused to sit back and do nothing.

All she could do was give it everything she had.

The car kept moving.

Elodie glanced down at her phone from time to time, hoping for a signal.

Nothing yet.

After what felt like ages, the car finally came to a stop. Someone opened the door and ushered everyone out.

Then a man with a gun turned to Elodie. "Ms. Thorne, this way, please."

Elodie hesitated as she got out.

They'd arrived at a quiet, secluded private estate. This had to be the wealthy district.

"I'll need your phone," the armed man said, holding out his hand. It was clear he wasn't asking.

Elodie's mind raced. She wasn't

naive-he was still being polite now, but if she refused, there'd be nothing

she could do if he decided to take it by force.

She tightened her grip, then handed over her colleague's phone.

"This way," the man said.

Elodie looked at the colleagues who'd already been led away.

During the evacuation, most of those with her were locals; her fellow expats had been sent off in different cars, taken in another

direction.

She pressed her lips together, realizing now just how strange-and dangerous-

things had become.