Elena’s POV
When I woke up in the hospital, my head was pounding. My face throbbed, and I could taste blood in my mouth.
I tried to sit up, but my body wouldn't cooperate. Everything hurt.
"You're finally awake." Adrian's voice was cold, and emotionless.
I forced my eyes open. He was sitting in a chair by the window, watching me.
The memories flooded through my mind, and tears welled up in my eyes. In our eight years of marriage, Adrian had never hit me before, until now.
"Adrian," I whispered. "How could—"
"Apologize to Celeste."
"What?"
"You heard me." His eyes were hard. "Apologize to your sister for attacking her."
"I didn't attack her!" I tried to sit up again, ignoring the pain. "She was taunting me, saying horrible things—"
"I don't care what she said." He stood up. "You put your hands on a pregnant woman. You could have killed her baby."
"She threw herself down the stairs!" Tears streamed down my face. "She's lying, Adrian. She's always lying—"
"Apologize."
"No." I said firmly.
His expression darkened. "No?"
"I won't apologize for something I didn't do."
He stared at me for a long moment. Then he smiled. It was a cold, cruel smile that made my blood freeze.
"Fine."
He grabbed my arm and dragged me to my feet. I stumbled, my legs were too weak to hold me up.
"What are you doing?" I gasped.
He didn't answer, he just dragged me out of the room, and down the hospital hallway.
"Adrian, stop! Where are we going?"
He kept dragging me, till we approached the ICU.
My stomach dropped.
"No," I whispered. "No, Adrian, please—"
He ignored me as he dragged me to Room 304. Clara’s room.
"Adrian, what are you doing?" I was sobbing now. "Please, don't—"
He kicked open the door to Clara's room.
To my dismay, she was still lying there, pale and unmoving, surrounded by machines. Her heart monitor beeped steadily. Ivan’s people hadn't arrived yet.
A nurse looked up, startled. "Sir, you can't—"
"Turn off the life support," Adrian said coldly.
The nurse's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
"I said turn it off."
"Sir, I can't do that—"
"Do it."
"Sir, the patient will die within minutes if we—"
"I don't care." Adrian's voice was ice. "Turn it off. Now."
The nurse looked at me, then back at Adrian. "Sir, I need authorization from—"
"I'm Adrian Moretti." His voice was quiet but deadly. "I'm on the hospital board. I donate millions to this place every year. If you don't do what I say right now, I will have you fired. I will have your nursing license revoked. I will destroy your career and this entire hospital. Do you understand?"
The nurse's face went pale as she quickly did as he said with tears in her eyes.
"No!" I lunged forward, but Adrian caught me, holding me back.
"Please," I sobbed. "Please, she's all I have. She's my mother. Please—"
The ventilator went silent.
The heart monitor's beeping slowed.
"Adrian, please!" I dropped to my knees, sobbing. "Please don't do this! I'm begging you!"
He looked down at me. "Apologize to Celeste."
"I'll apologize!" I screamed. "I'll apologize for anything! Just please, don't hurt her!"
"Say it, then."
"I'm sorry!" I was hysterical now. "I'm sorry for pushing Celeste! I'm sorry for everything! Just please, Adrian, please don't do this!"
He stared at me for a long moment.
"Turn it back on!" I screamed. "Please, turn it back on!"
But then a voice called from the hallway. "Mr. Moretti! Sir!"
Another nurse appeared in the doorway, breathless. "It's Miss Celeste! She's having a panic attack! She can't breathe—"
Adrian released me immediately. “Gather every nurse and doctor in this hospital. Now. No harm must come to Celeste.”
Then he ran out of the room. To my horror, he dragged the nurse from Clara's room with him.
I rushed outside frantically.
"Help!" I screamed into the hallway. "Somebody help me! Please!"
But everyone was gone, running to help Celeste.
I looked at the machines, at the buttons and switches.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to Clara. "I'm so sorry. I don't know how to—"
I tried pressing buttons, and flipping switches, but nothing worked.
Clara's heart monitor slowed further, and the beeping got fainter.
"No, no, no," I sobbed. "Please, Mama. Please don't leave me. Please—"
The monitor flatlined.
"No!" I threw myself across her body. "Mama! Mama, please!"
But she was gone.
I don't know how long I stayed there, sobbing over her body.
Eventually, the nurses came back. They tried to pull me away, but I wouldn't let go.
Security had to be called.
They dragged me out of the room while I screamed and fought.
Adrian was in the waiting room with Celeste. She was crying dramatically, my mother stroking her hair.
When Adrian saw me being dragged past, he didn't even look concerned.
He just turned back to Celeste and continued coddling her.
Clara was dead. Adrian had murdered her.
Just like he had murdered my babies.
I pulled out my phone with shaking hands and texted Ivan.
— He killed my mother. It’s too late.
His response came immediately.
— What happened?
I told him everything.
There was a long pause before his next message.
— I’ll make him pay, Elena. I swear on my life.
If Adrian thought he had broken me, he was about to learn how wrong he was.
