On the way to the hospital, Eli had already made all the arrangements. When I arrived, Nellie was clutching the bill, completely lost.

"Family of Jeanette Chesson, our system shows the account has been frozen. There's not enough balance to continue treatment. If payment isn't made today, we'll have to suspend her treatment."

Nellie's face went pale as she stared at the itemized charges, checking them again and again. "How could it be frozen? I paid just yesterday…

"Please just give me a few more days! I'll get the money, I swear! My mother can't have her treatment stopped!"

Tears welled up in Nellie's eyes. Her knees buckled, and she almost dropped to the floor, but the nurse didn't even spare her a glance.

"That's the hospital policy. There's nothing I can do. Either you pay, or she'll be discharged. If you don't have the money, you'll need to find relatives or friends to help."

With that, the nurse turned and left, leaving Nellie standing helplessly. Ever since everything fell apart in our family, everyone we knew avoided us like the plague. Family? Friends? There was no one left to turn to.

Nellie looked at the time, her eyes hollow. She reached into her canvas bag, took out a small bottle, and poured the last few pills into her palm. Without hesitation, she chewed them up and swallowed.

I'd taken that medication before. It was unbearably bitter, but Nellie didn't even frown. Expressionlessly, she finished the pills and stood, heading straight for the bank.

I followed close behind, like a shadow, watching her silently withdraw every last cent from her account. At the corner, I spotted a familiar figure again.

Eli had his back turned, methodically reporting Nellie's movements.

"Ms. Shaw, Nellie just went to the bank, but it's still not enough to cover the medical bills."

"Keep the pressure on." Helena's voice crackled faintly over the phone, chilling in its detachment. Isn't Nathan living it up now? I'll drive her into a corner until that coward brother of hers shows his face!"

"But—"

"No buts! This is all Nathan's debt to me. He will pay tenfold! Remember this. If he doesn't come forward, his mother gets no treatment."

Even in the bright afternoon, her words felt like ice. I had no way to tell her I was already dead, that I physically couldn't show up. I didn't know what it would take for her to leave us alone. All I could do was hope Nellie might somehow confront Helena again.

However, our mother didn't survive long enough. Due to Helena's orders, her medication and life-support treatments were cut off. By nightfall, her condition deteriorated rapidly.

By the time Nellie managed to bring in a doctor, it was already too late.

"Helena, if you have a problem with me, come at me! Don't torture my family! When will you leave us alone?"

I collapsed into a crouch and screamed the words. No tears fell, yet the pain in my chest was sharp and unmistakably real.

I watched Nellie clutch our mother's lifeless body, wailing in despair before she finally went quiet and called for a car to the funeral home.

Eli, who had been hiding off to the side the entire time, clearly hadn't expected my mother's death either. Panic was written all over his face, and he rushed to report everything to Helena.

As expected, the news made her lose her grip. An expensive porcelain piece slipped from her hands and shattered across the floor.

"How… How could she die? I… I never meant for this! Where is Nellie?"

"Nellie has gone to the funeral home to make arrangements," Eli replied, then added, "Nathan hasn't appeared at all."

The words drained Helena of all her energy. She collapsed back into her chair.

Finally, she realized something was wrong. She knew how much I cared about my family. There was no way I'd ignore something this serious.

That was unless… I truly couldn't do anything.

"Get a car ready for the funeral home. Now! Go!"