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.

footsteps approached her cell. Sandra didn't look up at first, too consumed by her grief. Then, she heard a

slowly, her face streaked with tears. It was the officer who had brought her in.

hesitated, then said, "Your mother... she's

a moment, she thought

she whispered,

repeated. "We heard

breath caught, and

disbelief. "Alive?" she repeated, her voice barely above

nodded. "Yes. The doctor said she's going to be

mouth

like a wave, and tears

and over, clutching

her, but for the first

hadn't killed her mother. She

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

make this right. I swear I

one this time. She would beg Evelyn

steady for the first time in hours. "I'll

open, and the dim hospital room swam into focus. The

she feared that if she let go Claire would die. Evelyn's eyes, red-rimmed from hours of crying,

hand. "A couple of

it's most

to go home, Evie." Her voice 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 your side until you're out

at the corners of Claire's lips, even though the effort made her head

"Even after the doctors said

Her expression shifted, her brow furrowing in concern. "What

she avoided her mother's gaze. She hesitated, unsure how to reveal the truth without

"She didn't push me deliberately," she said

to look at Claire, her jaw

matter, Mom. That's not the only thing she's done," Evelyn said, her voice low but firm. "She almost killed Rayna. She tried to run her down with her car, but Rayna's

and reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "I

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

done something so terrible to Rayna, too." She paused, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "I love Sandra, but she should pay for her actions. You

don't have to forgive her?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought you woke up because I promised to forgive

be silly," she said gently. "Why would

for-your father, you, Samantha." She paused and gave Evelyn's hand a reassuring squeeze. "You're

"Yes, you're my mother. And, just so you know... you have one more person to

confusion, then followed Evelyn's gaze to her stomach. Her