a Stei

asagna at my home. I walked down the sterile corridor, each step a painful reminder of my dwindling st

d hear their voices, muffled but clear, even befo

d open

pillows, a delicate silk scarf tied around her head. She looked pale, her eyes a little sunken, but her hands were perfectly m

hed with concern. Hugo stood nearby, Jaret perched on his hip, both looking at Isab

ith a forced cheerfulness. "You came! I knew you would." Her eyes, ho

devoid of emotion. I moved further in

parents, then to Hugo, a silent acknowledgment of their complicity. "Thank you, Alond

good for Innovatech, too. A fresh perspective. And it will free you up to focus on your health, dear.

omething that needed a "fresh perspective" from a woman who h

hisper. I took a deep breath. This was it. The final

ide with astonishment. Even Isabell' s feigned fragility

d, her voice hushed, almost reve

"My private accounts. All my remaining assets. Everything." I laid them on the bedside tab

Jaret's future! Are you sure you want to...?" His voice trailed off, a flick

fortunes to a dying woman? What future could I build for Jaret when I wouldn't be there to see it? This was my last act of defiance, my final surrender. To give

's all here. Just needs your signatures.

y avarice. The mask of the fragile invalid dropped completely, revealing th

e truly too good. Too generous." She picked up the pen, her hand tremb

ze fixed on her. I needed t

, almost fearful awe at my total capitulation. "She's always been the sensible

stretching out towards the documents. "Think

r her expensive, experimental treatments? I'm just making sure she has everything she needs." The sar

ble, their forced smiles faltering. They knew, somewhere deep dow

hin. My body screamed in protest, my head pounded, and a cold

ith a speed that belied her "fragile" state. As the last signature was penned, she looked

the words cutting through the saccha

u tomorrow at the ceremony." He smiled, a self-satisfied smirk. They ha

's shirt. "Mommy, go home and rest! Aunt

pushing me away, telling me to rest so I could

r concern. They were a circle, tight-knit, excluding me. Isabell, the radiant center, surrounded by

eavy and final. Not "see you

d swam, and a sharp, searing pain shot through my chest. The world tilted. I stumbled, catching m

ot in front of them. Not after giving them everything. I had to leave them with their perfect, happy illusion. Let them t

I moved as quickly as I could, a dying woman fleeing her own demise, trying to