Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 26 Bad News

After that day, Arthur called me nonstop. I got so fed up, I just turned off my phone.

A week later, a colleague from the hospital showed up at my door with devastating news: my mom had died.

I bolted out of the house, running toward the hospital. I hadn't gone far when a car screeched to a stop in front of me. It was Ethan. He drove me to the hospital.

The doctor said my mom passed away at 6 AM. Her condition had worsened the night before, but they couldn't reach me. In the morning, my colleagues tracked down Arthur and got my address.

In the morgue, I could barely stand, staring at the white sheet on the gurney. My world felt drained of color, just black and white.

Doctors and nurses who knew me stood at the door, not daring to come in.

me around and held me up. Ethan didn't say a word, but his

in front of the tombstone for hours. It was pouring rain,

take this," Ethan said, his

respond. I knew getting sick wouldn't bring my mom

got darker and the rain got heavier, Ethan picked me up. My face pressed against his chest, and I realized

my seatbelt. Ethan drove in

I said, my voice hoarse

a cigarette from his pocket, sniffed it, and put it

the cemetery, so we stayed in the car for a while. Through the rain-soaked

it was happy. That time was

was shivering more, Ethan unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over, holding