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

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

then said,

froze. For a moment,

she whispered,

officer repeated. "We heard from the hospital.

breath caught, and

"Alive?" she repeated, her voice barely above a

"Yes. The doctor said she's

flew to her mouth as a loud sob escaped

her like a wave, and tears streamed down

alive," she cried, over and

guilt still gnawed at her, but for

her mother.

kept coming. "Thank

you. I'll make this right. I swear

She would beg Evelyn for forgiveness. She would make things right with her mother. She

herself, her voice steady for the first time in hours. "I'll be

into focus. The soft beeping

go Claire would die. Evelyn's eyes, red-rimmed from hours of crying, lit up when Claire stirred.

couple of hours," she

it's most likely

"Where is your father?" she asked. "You've been here for a while. You need to go home, Evie." Her voice was gentle but firm, her maternal instincts taking over despite her

her head ache. "You don't have to worry,"

her voice breaking. "Even after the doctors said you were alright, you just.. you

regret and exhaustion. "That wasn't intentional, she said. Her expression shifted, her brow furrowing in concern. "What about Sandra?" she asked

looked away, her lips tightening as she avoided her mother's gaze. She hesitated, unsure how to

already suspecting the answer. "She didn't push me deliberately," she said softly, her voice tinged with

her head back to look at Claire,

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 boyfriend was hit instead." Claire closed her eyes briefly, as if the weight of Evelyn's words was too

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

but she's committed too

something so terrible to Rayna, too." She paused, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "I love Sandra,

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

playing on her lips. "Don't be silly," she said gently.

father, you, Samantha." She paused and gave Evelyn's hand

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

tilted her head in confusion, then followed Evelyn's gaze