The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 191

Sandra sat on the cold, hard floor in the small holding cell. The room was dim, lit by a flickering lightbulb above her head. Shadows stretched along the walls, but none of it mattered.

Sandra's world had collapsed.

Her arms wrapped tightly around herself, but no amount of holding could stop the shivers running through her body.

She pressed her knees to her chest, resting her forehead against them, as tears spilled down her face. Her sobs echoed through the empty cell, raw and jagged, breaking the heavy silence around her.

Her mind was a storm, filled with the memory of her mother's voice- so soft, so patient, always trying to correct and guide her, but she never cared to listen.

"I'm sorry," Sandra whispered, her voice cracking. She pressed her fists against her eyes, as though trying to stop the tears, but they kept coming.

Her chest ached, and the weight of the news felt unbearable. Her mother was gone. Dead. Because of her. Because of her senseless jealousy and greed.

Now nothing else mattered. Not Derek's rejection. Not Evelyn's victory. Nothing mattered. All that was left was a gaping hole in her heart. She had lost the one person she loved the most.

"It's my fault," she choked out, shaking her head. "All my fault."

The images wouldn't leave her mind. She saw it all again. The argument. Her mother's voice pleading with her to stop. The fight or the phone. And then-the fall. The sound of her mother hitting the floor. It replayed in her head, over and over like a terrible song she couldn't escape.

Sandra grabbed the bars of the cell, leaning her forehead against the cold metal. "Why did I do it?" she cried, her voice breaking.

"Why couldn't I just listen to her?"

Her mother had warned her so many times to stop being selfish.

To stop chasing things that didn't matter. But she never cared. She wanted more- more money, more power, more control. And now it had cost her the one person who truly loved her.

"I didn't mean to hurt her, she sobbed, shaking her head. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

Her hands trembled as she clutched at her chest. Her tears fell faster now, soaking her shirt. "Please, God," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Please bring her back. I'll change. I'll do better. I'll never hurt anyone again. Just... don't let her be gone."

She squeezed her eyes shut and clasped her hands together, her words tumbling out in a desperate prayer. "I'll stop being greedy.

I'll stop being mean. I'll stop hurting people. Just let her live.

Please,

I'll be good. I'll be good. I promise."

Sandra stayed like that, crying until her throat was raw and her eyes burned. Every part of her ached- her head, her heart, her soul. She thought of all the things she'd done wrong. Every selfish act, every cruel word, every time she ignored her mother's advice. "If only I I could take it all back," she thought bitterly.

deeper into her sorrow, the sound of footsteps approached her cell. Sandra didn't look up at first, too consumed

who had brought her in. He stood on

hesitated, then said,

moment, she thought shed misheard

she whispered, her voice

"We heard from

caught, and

she stared at him in disbelief. "Alive?" she repeated, her voice

officer nodded. "Yes. The doctor said she's going

hands flew to her mouth

washing over her like

over and over, clutching her chest.

her, but for the first

hadn't killed her mother. She hadn't

with trembling hands, though the tears kept coming. "Thank you, God," she whispered, looking

make this right. I swear

her knees and rocking gently, Sandra made a vow- a real one this time. She would beg Evelyn for forgiveness. She

for the first time

from there, Claire's eyelids fluttered open, and the dim hospital room swam into focus. The soft beeping of monitors echoed around her, reminding her

bedside, clutching her hand so tightly as if she feared that if she let go Claire would die. Evelyn's eyes, red-rimmed from hours of crying, lit up when Claire stirred. Her face broke into a

squeezed her hand. "A couple of hours,"

it's most likely a

was gentle but firm, her maternal instincts taking over despite her fragile state. Evelyn shook her head vehemently, tears welling up again. "You gave us all a terrible scare, Mom. I'm not leaving

made her head ache.

up!" Evelyn cried, her voice breaking. "Even after

in concern. "What about Sandra?" she asked cautiously. She had not seen

mother's gaze. She hesitated, unsure how to

deliberately," she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "It was a

her head back to

down with her car, but Rayna's boyfriend was hit instead." Claire closed her eyes briefly, as if the weight of Evelyn's words was

for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "I

could do something to help Sandra, but she's committed too many crimes.

"I love Sandra, but she should

she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I

head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Don't be silly,"

and gave

spilled down Evelyn's cheeks as she whispered, "Yes, you're my mother. And, just so you

followed Evelyn's gaze to her