A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

No one knew how much time had passed before Xander finally exhaled, exhaustion etched deep in his features as he stepped out of the room. Alessia and Cole quickly moved to either side of him, supporting him as they made their way downstairs.

“Father, are you alright?” Alessia asked, handing him a glass of water.

Xander nodded, taking the glass and draining it in a few gulps.

“Mr. Dawson, how’s my mom?” Cole’s voice was tight, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he spoke, betraying his anxiety.

Xander rolled the empty glass between his weathered hands, avoiding Cole’s gaze. After a long pause, he sighed heavily.

Cole didn’t dare ask again, afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle the answer.

Xander’s heart ached for him, but he knew some truths couldn’t be left unsaid.

“Cole… your mother has been lying there for two years. She’s conscious, but she can’t wake up, can’t move…” Xander’s voice faltered.

He reached out and patted Cole’s hand, his cloudy eyes glistening red with emotion. In these two years, Cole had thought about giving up more times than he could count. And yet, each time, he’d tell himself to wait a little longer–just a little longer. Days blurred into months, and before he realized it, two years had slipped by.

Jade had always been cheerful and kind, full of life, confidence, and gentle strength. Not just Cole, but even Alessia believed she would wake up eventually. No one. could have imagined her husband’s death would hit her so hard–so hard that she’d lose even the will to live.

them, hoping for a flicker of survival in Jade’s eyes. But nothing broke through her

say a thing, just trudged upstairs as if his soul had

back. He shook his head. “Let him be with his

him to

her lip so hard she nearly drew blood.

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wake up again?”

his face, eyes fixed on the med kit on the table. “But if she does, there’s no turning back. It

A low rumble of thunder gave way to a sudden, torrential rain that pounded

the table went cold, reheated, then cold again. No one

on the sofa, silent and unmoving, like

out, his face

mom–her heart

kept close, hovering

Xander inserted the needles one by one into Jade’s skin. Cole stood by, eyes rimmed red, not daring to blink, terrified