Chapter 14 : The Mother's Legacy - 2 For a moment , everything felt perfect . Then disaster struck during dessert . Just as my mother lifted a forkful of cake to her mouth , she began coughing violently . Suddenly , blood gushed uncontrollably from her lips , spattering across the white tablecloth . I froze in horror , the piece of cake I'd been holding slipping from my fingers onto my new shoes . My mind went completely blank with shock . Why ? Mama was supposed to be better . The doctors said she could go home . Why was she vomiting blood ? In panic , my father scooped up his wife , his voice choked with tears . " Sarah , don't scare me . I'll take you to the hospital right now . " Martha , our housekeeper , frantically called for an ambulance while I stood like a statue , numb and terrified . I couldn't move , couldn't think , couldn't breathe . The paramedics arrived within minutes , lifting my mother onto a stretcher . Before they carried her away , her tearful gaze fixed on me . Her lips moved soundlessly , but I could read the words : " I'm sorry . " Something broke inside me then . I burst into tears and chased after the ambulance as it sped away , stumbling through the blizzard , crying , " Mama , Mama , don't leave … " I ran until the white ambulance vanished from sight , then collapsed helplessly in the snow . My lungs burned from the cold air , and my tears froze on my cheeks . That night , Sarah Winters passed away . My father spent the night by his wife's side , shattered by grief - a scene I never witnessed . Unable to catch the ambulance , I had been found by Martha , burning with fever and delirious , calling out for my mother in my sleep , crying through the night . When I awoke the next day , Martha sat beside my bed , her eyes red and swollen . She told me my mother was gone forever . I refused to believe it . I refused to go to the hospital to see her body , terrified of seeing my warm , loving mother cold and still . I desperately convinced myself Mama had only gone on a long trip . In my heart , that warm , smiling woman with the gentle amber eyes lived on eternally . < Chapter 14 The Mother's Leg +25 Puntos > The days after her death blurred together . I clung to the ceramic wolf figurine we had painted together , refusing food or water , crying silently as I drifted between sleep and wakefulness . My father seemed to age ten years overnight . His hair turned completely white , and his gaze lost all light . Eventually , he was diagnosed with depression . For a long time , I believed my father would never remarry - he had loved my mother so deeply . But two years later , he brought Sarah's once - best - friend home as his new wife . That betrayal shattered me completely . I threw a ferrible tantrum , screaming that he had forgotten my mother , that he had betrayed her memory . I moved into the school dormitory that same day , refusing to come home or speak to either of them during holidays . In university , just as our relationship was slowly mending , my father arranged my engagement to Connor Rivers , pushing our bond to a breaking point . Unlike his past indulgence , this time he was unyielding , even freezing my accounts to force my return . In my eyes , the arranged engagement was merely the last straw . What truly drove me away was his remarriage . To me , he had betrayed my mother , and perhaps wanted to drive me out of the house altogether , treating me as a burden to be passed to another man . So , in anger and despair , I left Riverdale , determined to make my own way in Harbor City , clutching that ceramic wolf figurine - the last relic of my mother's love and warmth . For three years , I never let it leave my side . Now , that precious figurine lay shattered on my bedroom floor , my heart breaking with it . After crying myself empty , I forced myself to act . Maybe a master craftsman could fix it . With trembling hands , I gathered the fragments , carefully arranging them on a clean cloth . I snapped a photo , posted it on my social media , and wrote : " Looking for a top restoration artist . " With my wide network back in Riverdale - relatives of great influence , wealthy friends - I knew someone might help . I had connections I'd never used during my time with Ethan , preferring to make my own way . Mere minutes later , my phone rang . It was Connor Rivers . I assumed he was offering a recommendation and quickly answered . " Connor ? Do you know someone who can fix ceramics ? " But his voice was tight with concern : " Livvy , are you hurt ? " I was momentarily stunned , then realized the shards in the photo were stained with blood- 2/3 < Chapter 14. The Mother's Leg . Cassandra's blood that I hadn't wiped away . " No , it's not my blood , " I replied softly . +25 Puntos > Connor pressed again , his voice growing anxious , " What happened ? How did the ceramic wolf Sarah gave you break ? " I fell silent , not knowing where to begin . I was also surprised he had instantly recognized the figurine from just a photo of broken pieces . Had I told him about it before ? I couldn't remember . After a pause , Connor's tone turned resolute and brooked no refusal : " I'm heading to the airport now . Wait for me . I'm coming to Harbor City to see you ." Comentarios Ver anuncios ( 0/20 ) > Votar 246 373