[Elena's POV]

My hands were shaking as I answered the call. On the other end, the nurse's voice was rushed and panicked. "Ms. Romano, you need to come to the hospital right away! Mrs. Romano has taken a sudden turn for the worse. She needs emergency surgery!"

I broke out in a cold sweat and practically tumbled my way out of the estate, rushing to the hospital like a madwoman. Once all the paperwork was done, the nurse told me I needed to pay the surgery fees immediately.

I relaxed a little. Thankfully, Giuliano had transferred a large sum of money to me.

But a second later, I froze in place, the color draining from my face. My voice trembled, and I could barely stand upright. "What did you say? My card doesn't work?"

The nurse gave me a pitying look and gently repeated, "I'm sorry, miss. Your account has been frozen."

This was Giuliano's doing. He'd personally frozen the money I was going to use to save my mother.

My hands were shaking as I called him over and over like a lunatic. On the other end, his lazy, indifferent voice came through the receiver. "You found out? Don't blame me for this, Elena.

"You knew Eva was pregnant, yet you still deliberately provoked her. I'm only teaching you a tiny lesson this time so you'll stop causing trouble."

None of his excuses registered in my mind anymore. All I knew was the despair that washed over me and that I had to plead with him.

"Giuliano, my mother needs surgery. She's dying! Please, transfer some money to me. She's your mother's best friend. She treated you so well back then—she saved your life!" I begged, my voice cracking.

There was a moment of silence on the other end. Then, Eva's mocking laugh came through the phone. "You're the only one dumb enough to fall for such a pathetic trick. I think she's just jealous of how well you treat me and wants to scam you for sympathy."

Giuliano's tone instantly became cold and hard. "If you want my money, Elena, then you can start by begging Eva to forgive you."

With that, he tossed his phone to Eva. She picked it up and aimed the camera at herself, tapping the screen with a slender finger, drawing out her words on purpose. "Oh, you poor thing. Go on, beg me. Maybe if you're sincere enough, I'll take pity on you and help you out."

I didn't hesitate for even a second. I dropped to my knees with a heavy thud before the phone, slapping myself again and again. "Please, I'm begging you."

As long as I could save my mother, my pride was worthless.

Eva laughed so hard she almost doubled over. "That's nowhere near sincere enough. I checked—there's only about six miles between us. If you kneel your way over here and beg me in person, maybe I'll say yes then."

She didn't hang up. I understood every ounce of her malice. Holding the phone, I started forward, falling to my knees and prostrating myself with each step, dragging myself along the ground.

Six miles wasn't a long distance, but it felt like my knees were shattering with every step. Blood slowly seeped through my pants, the red stain spreading to form a horrible sight.

I kneeled my way through the entire night. By the time the sky started to pale with the first light of dawn, I finally crawled to the private hospital where Eva was.

My throat felt scorched and raw, like it had been burned from the inside out. I forced each word out, hoarse and broken. "I'm begging you… Please, save my mother… She's the only family I have left…"

Eva held up the phone and waved it in front of Giuliano, her face twisted in disgust. "Look at your fiancee. For money, she's thrown away every ounce of dignity. She's kneeling outside and refuses to get up."

Giuliano didn't spare me a single glance. His voice was low and ice-cold as he said, "Since you like kneeling so much, Elena, you can stay on your knees. You almost caused Eva to miscarry. I'm not giving you a single cent."

My vision went dark around the edges, and my heart plummeted into a bottomless abyss.

Just then, my phone rang again. My hands were shaking so badly that I could barely hold it; I was too afraid to answer the call.

It soon cut off. A second later, a text from the hospital popped up on my screen. "Ms. Romano, our condolences. Mrs. Romano has passed away."

A roaring filled my head, and everything went blank. A metallic taste rushed up my throat, and I suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

My only family, the last light I'd had in this world, was gone.

With the very last bit of strength I had left, I pushed myself up from the ground and staggered back toward the hospital where my mother was.

A white sheet had been pulled over her body. Her face was ashen, and she was utterly still. I threw myself onto her, clutching her cold body.

So this was what grief at its extreme felt like—so deep and all-consuming that not a single tear would come.

People around me were talking, but I couldn't hear any of it. All I could do was hold on to my mother, because it felt like the moment I let go, my soul would die with her.

I numbly finished all the procedures, sent her body to be cremated, then carried the cold urn of ashes back to that disgusting estate.

I gently stroked the urn, my voice as soft as a sigh. "Mom, I'm taking you away from here."

I quickly packed what few belongings I had and left a signed declaration on the table, formally dissolving my engagement with Giuliano.

Then, I walked out the door without another look back.

Goodbye, Giuliano. From this moment on, we would be strangers for the rest of our lives.