The afternoon dragged on. Selena sat in the living room, staring blankly at the lavish furniture and perfectly arranged decorations. She had tried reading a book, tidying her room, and even walking through the mansion's endless hallways—but nothing felt productive.
Her mind kept wandering back to her mother, lying in the hospital under delicate care. Every minute she spent here reminded her why she had agreed to this contract, yet the emptiness of the mansion gnawed at her.
By evening, Selena could no longer sit idle. She grabbed her coat and stepped out quietly, making her way to the hospital. The streets glimmered under the city lights, but her heart ached with worry.
She arrived at the hospital, the sterile smell immediately reminding her of last week's panic and the surgery her mother had undergone. Selena's chest tightened as she saw her mother in the recovery room, still frail but smiling weakly when she saw her.
"Selena…" her mother whispered, voice soft but full of warmth.
She cried and hug her mother,she asked her mother how she's feeling,her mother told her not to worry that she's feeling well.
After checking her mother all over again,she began to tell her mother what she had faced and how she sees money for her surgery..
"You… you don't have to do this, you know."
Selena shook her head, fighting back tears. "Mom… I have to. You're my mother. I can't lose you. Three months… that's nothing if it keeps you alive."
Her mother reached out, holding her hand. "You're brave, my dear… braver than I could ever be. Just promise me you'll stay safe."
Selena squeezed her hand tightly. "I promise."
A glimpse of determination shown in her eyes.
After leaving her mother's side, Selena walked back to the mansion, the cool night air clearing her mind. The mansion no longer seemed as empty—her purpose, her reason for enduring Jace's rules and cold demeanor, burned brighter than ever.
She entered the mansion quietly, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her. Three months of rules, cold stares, and tension… she could survive it all. For her mother, she would.