No Escape from Love novel Chapter 230

By the time I came to my senses, I was already on the rooftop. Mom stood just a few steps away, teetering on the edge.

The wind cut across my face like a blade, stinging my eyes. It howled around us as if trying to pull both of us down with it.

She was wearing a hospital gown, and her frail figure swayed in the wind like a leaf on the verge of being blown away.

"Mom, what are you doing?" I screamed, my voice trembling with fear. "Come back! We can talk about everything!"

Mom turned around. Her eyes were vacant, her face completely devoid of color. She looked at me. "Serena... I've let your father down. I've let you down..."

"Mom, what are you talking about? You haven't let anyone down!" My voice was hoarse due to the harsh winds. "Mom! Please, come back. Don't stand there..." I cautiously stepped closer, every movement agonizingly slow as I was terrified the slightest disturbance might push her over the edge.

"Serena..." Her voice was so faint, almost swallowed by the wind. "Don't come any closer..."

I froze, my heart pounding violently.

"Mom, what's wrong? Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together. Please, just step back first, okay?"

She shook her head, her gaze unfocused as if she were staring at something distant and unreachable. "I can't go on anymore... Serena, I can't..."

"Don't say that!" I forced back my tears. "You still have me and the Hastings family. You can't just give up like this!"

She let out a bitter laugh, one more heartbreaking than tears. "The Hastings family? They want nothing to do with me... He'd be happy if I died..."

"That's not true, Mom. You have to believe me..."

"Serena." She suddenly looked at me, her eyes clearing for a brief moment. "Do you hate me?"

I shook my head. "I don't hate you, Mom."

She smiled—a smile filled with relief.