Chapter 3

"Sophia, when are you and Andrew coming over?" Mom called early that morning.

My throat tightened. I couldn't tell her how things really were.

I grew up with just Mom. She raised me alone.

Now, when she should finally be enjoying life, happiness kept slipping away.

A few years ago, Mom was diagnosed with heart failure. The doctors said if she took it easy and avoided stress, she could have a few good years left.

Her biggest wish was to see me married, to know someone would always be there for me.

I forced a smile and reassured her. "Mom, we've been so busy with wedding stuff that we totally forgot. Sorry."

Mom sounded cheerful. "It's okay, sweetheart. As long as you and Andrew are good, that's all I care about."

My smile faded the second I hung up.

Just yesterday, Andrew and I were fighting like there was no tomorrow.

For Mom's sake, I called him. Olivia answered instead. "Andrew's busy right now. Sophia, if you need something, I'll pass it on."

Swallowing my anger, I kept my voice as gentle as I could. "Just let me talk to him."

He finally picked up, background noise making his voice muffled and impatient. "Yeah? What?"

I got straight to the point. "You promised you'd visit my mom with me. She called—she wants to see us. Are you free?"

He snorted dismissively. "Yeah, I said that before. But now? I'm busy."

And then he just hung up.

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood. Only then did I realize how desperate I'd become.

I hated how Andrew always broke his promises, but I was powerless to change anything.

I hauled the bags to the care center alone.

Mom's face lit up. "Sophia! You're here!"

She looked past me. "Where's Andrew? Why didn't he come with you?"

I avoided her gaze and blurted out an excuse. "Something came up."

Mom always could read me. She knew something was wrong.

She was about to ask when she looked past me and exclaimed, "Andrew, you're here!"

But he wasn't alone. Olivia peeked out from behind him.

She slipped her arm through his like it was natural, smiling brightly. "Hello, Mrs. Lane. I'm Olivia, Andrew's friend."

Mom looked at me—pale and miserable—then at Andrew and Olivia standing together. It was obvious.

Her expression darkened instantly, and she snapped at Andrew, "You had the nerve to bring that woman right in front of me? What about all those promises you made?"

Mom grabbed a feather duster, raising it at Andrew, but halfway there, she clutched her chest and collapsed.

I rushed to her side, screaming, "Mom! Mom, don't do this! Someone call 911!"

The emergency room's red sign burned into my vision.

I paced outside, heart hammering, silently praying for a miracle.

When the doctor finally emerged, I rushed over. "Doctor, how's my mom?"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could. She went into sudden cardiac arrest, and with her pre-existing heart failure..." He paused. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"No... this can't be happening." My world collapsed. Just this morning, Mom was talking to me—and now she was gone.

My nerves were shot—I staggered, about to hit the floor.

"Careful!" Andrew caught my arm.

I jerked away, sickened by the sight of him.

"You knew her heart couldn't take stress! Why the hell did you bring Olivia to upset her like that?

"This is your fault! You and Olivia killed my mom!"

"Enough!" Andrew snapped. "I'm grieving too, but Olivia has nothing to do with this. She was just trying to be nice.

"I get that you're upset, but that's no reason to go after Olivia. Apologize to her."

With that, he grabbed me and pushed me in front of Olivia.

I let out a bitter laugh. For the first time, I finally saw the real Andrew—the man I was about to marry.

When I stayed silent, he pressed, "You were wrong. Say you're sorry."

Olivia had been sobbing since hearing the news, hiccupping through her tears. "I'm so sorry, Andrew. I never meant for this to happen... It's all my fault..."

Andrew turned to comfort her gently. "It's not your fault. It was an accident. Her mom was already very sick."

Enough was enough. I slapped him hard across the face.

The crack echoed through the hallway.

Andrew clutched his cheek, staring at me in shock. Bet he'd never seen this side of me before.

I ignored him, gritting my teeth and yelling, "Get out!"

With that, I turned away and went to make the funeral arrangements, numb and alone.

Everything moved faster than I expected.

Mom was so small—all that remained fit into one urn.

I stared at it, mind blank.

After her heart failure diagnosis, Mom knew this day would come.

She used to say that the proudest thing she ever did was raise me right.

I honored her final wish and scattered her ashes at sea.

The questions that used to plague me didn't matter anymore.

Andrew had burned through all three chances. I was done.

I called my supervisor. "I'm taking the project."