The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 190

Evelyn froze, her father's words sinking into her like a dagger.

"What?" Her voice cracked, trembling with disbelief. "No... that can't be true. Mom can't die!" She cried, refusing to believe what she was hearing.

On the other end of the line, her father's voice was thick with anguish. "Her heart stopped. The doctors... they did all they could."

Evelyn felt the room tilt around her. Her vision blurred as tears gathered in her eyes. "I-I'm coming to the hospital now. I don't believe you!" she choked out. Without waiting for him to say anything else, she hung up the call and threw her phone on the bed.

The woman who had stepped into her life after her mother's passing, who had tried in her own way to be a mother to her and had taken her side over Sandra's, was gone? It was impossible.

She refused to accept it.

Her heart beat very fast, and tears blurred her vision as she quickly began to pull on her just discarded clothes.

Without waiting to fully zip up her dress, she headed for the door.

Before she could open it, Derek walked in with a tray of food for her, and he frowned when he saw her fully dressed. "What's wrong? Where are..."

"I'm going to the hospital. I have to go to the hospital, she cried as she bolted out of the room.

Derek frowned as he quickly set down the glass, picked up his car key, and ran after her. "What is going on? Did someone call?" he asked as he walked quickly, trying to catch up with Evelyn, who was running down the stairs.

"My Mom""" she sobbed, stumbling as she descended the stairs.

"Dad said she's.... she's...... I have to go back to the hospital," she said, refusing to associate the word dead with her stepmother.

"Let's go. Come on," he said, trying to match her pace.

The drive to the hospital felt endless. Evelyn sat in the passenger seat, her knuckles white as she gripped the hem of Derek's jacket, which she had taken without realizing it. Tears streamed down her face, and she muttered incoherent prayers under her breath. "She can't be gone," she whispered, her voice breaking. "She can't be..."

Derek reached over, placing a steadying hand on her knee. "We'll get there. Just hold on, okay?"

at the hospital, Evelyn practically sprinted through the corridors, not

father stood outside Claire's room, his face pale, his shoulders slumped

cried, running to him. "Where is she? Let

father's head jerked up, his face streaked with tears. "Evelyn..." he choked out as he pulled her into a hug, but Evelyn pushed past him, desperate to get to

room with trembling hands.

of Claire lying cold and lifeless, but that didn't

way beneath her as her gaze fell on Claire's pale face. She looked... serene, as though

spinning. Claire, gone? It didn't feel real. She took another shaky step forward, her hand reaching out toward the woman who had always been a

to me, Mom. I refuse to lose to you. You can't leave me! I

if you die this way? This is

you trying to punish me for something? Why do I have to lose you?"

Derek and Eric walked in, but neither of them made any move to stop Evelyn,

am I supposed to tell Samantha? I need you! You can't just go this way, please," Evelyn cried, sobbing uncontrollably as she prayed for a miracle. Suddenly, a faint sound broke the tension in the room-a rasping breath. Evelyn froze, her heart skipping

did you hear

father looked up, startled. "What are you

out to get the doctor. "Mom!" Evelyn gasped as she

and her father rushed to the other side of the bed, his hands trembling as he

"She's breathing! Dak

nurse rushed in, followed closely by a doctor. "Step back,

her father moved aside, clinging to each other as the

doctor check Claire's vitals. The nurse hooked her up to a monitor, and the room filled with the faint beep of a

a tense moment. "Her pulse is weak,

possible?" Evelyn asked, her

with a measured expression. "It was a rare medical situation.

him, bewildered. "What does

a buildup of pressure in the chest during CPR that eventually releases, allowing the heart to restart. In her case, her vital signs were so faint they were undetectable, even to medical equipment..." "So you made

nonexistent for over ten minutes, and all attempts to revive her failed. We followed protocol. But then..." He trailed off as he gestured to

"You thought

Éric said, his voice trembling with equal parts relief