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.

Sandra didn't look up at first, too consumed

had brought her in. He stood on

then said,

a moment, she

whispered,

officer repeated. "We heard from

breath caught, and

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

"Yes. The doctor said she's

flew to her mouth as

body, washing over her like a wave, and tears streamed down

over and over, clutching her chest. "She's

but for the first time,

mother. She hadn't entirely destroyed

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

you. I'll make this

made a vow- a real one this time. She would beg Evelyn for forgiveness.

she whispered to herself, her voice steady for the first time

room swam into focus. The soft beeping of

settled on Evelyn, who sat at 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 mixture of relief and exhaustion. "How long have I been out?" Claire asked weakly, her voice raspy from

squeezed her hand. "A couple of hours," she

said it's most likely

gentle but firm, her maternal instincts taking

Claire's lips, even though the effort made her head ache. "You don't have to worry," she

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

shifted, her brow furrowing in concern. "What about Sandra?" she asked cautiously. She had not seen her since she

her lips tightening as she avoided her mother's gaze. She hesitated, unsure how to reveal the truth

the answer. "She didn't push me deliberately,"

back to look at Claire,

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 much to bear. When she opened them

for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "I know

to help Sandra, but she's committed too many

as she replied, "I went to her room that night to give her one last chance. I didn't know she'd 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 feel guilty or try to placate me. It's tragic that it's come to this, but I'd rather see

emotions warring inside her. "So... I don't have to forgive her?" she asked hesitantly, her voice

"Don't be silly," she said gently. "Why would I want to

paused and gave Evelyn's hand a reassuring

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

confusion, then followed Evelyn's gaze to her stomach. Her eyes widened. "You're