Chapter 23 She forced herself upright. "Nothing… just a little tired… let's… let's keep eating cake…" Her face shifted from pale to blue-tinged. Breathing became labored. She fought to stay normal, but pressed her hand to her chest in obvious agony. "Sable… come here… let Mom look at you again…" Her voice was barely a whisper. I didn't understand the severity. "Mom, do you have a cold? Should I get medicine?" With her last strength, Mom pulled my hand close. "Sable… Mom's little princess… remember… Mom loves you forever and always…" Before she could finish, violent coughing seized her, Blood appeared at the corners of her mouth. "Isabella! Hold on! I'm calling an ambulance!" Dad gathered her in his arms. She shook her head, her gaze unfocused but still fixed on me. "Too late… Sable… be strong…" Her hand gripped mine desperately, as if trying to transfer all her love through touch. Slowly, her fingers relaxed and slipped away from mine. Her eyes remained on me, but the light of life slowly extinguished. In her final moment, her lips trembled as if she still had words to say, but no sound emerged. I finally understood what was happening and screamed, throwing myself toward her. "Mom! Mom! Wake up! You can't leave me!" Outside, snow fell harder, as if the whole world wept for our tragedy. The birthday candles still burned, but our warm family gathering had become an eternal farewell. Six months later, the ultimate betrayal. Dad announced he was marrying Victoria - Mom's best friend. "Mom's body is barely cold and you want to find me a new mother? And with her best friend!" From that moment, I refused to speak to him. My heart filled with resentment. When Caelan came to tutor me, I discovered my gift for medicine. I chose to become a doctor to heal others, so they wouldn't lose loved ones like I had. I asked Dad about the enemies who hurt Mom in battle. He only shook his head, saying he was fighting other foes and didn't know what happened. When he reached Mom, she was already seriously wounded. All these years I've tried to gather information about that day, but found nothing. I want to find those enemies and kill them myself. During college our relationship improved slightly, but then Dad demanded I marry Caelan. The real pain wasn't the arranged marriage itself - it was Dad's betrayal of Mom's memory. The marriage proposal was just the final straw. The real wound was his remarriage. Pain over Mom's death. Rage at Dad's remarriage. Despair over Darrell's betrayal. Fear and confusion about the future. "Mom, I'm sorry… I let someone destroy what we made together…" My voice broke.. 'Am I destined to bear all this pain alone?" I held the sapphire fragments against my chest. Each piece felt like a shard of my broken heart. But then Mom's voice echoed in my memory: "Always stay strong and kind." I wiped my tears and sat up straighter. The necklace was broken, but Mom's love and guidance lived in my heart. Maybe it couldn't be perfectly restored, but I could try. I picked up my phone and photographed the broken pieces carefully. Then I sent the images to Caelan with a message: "Do you know any jewelry craftsmen who might be able to repair this?" My phone buzzed barely thirty seconds after I'd sent the photos. Caelan's name flashed on the screen. I pressed answer with trembling fingers. "Hello?" "Sabi. His voice came through low and filled with something I couldn't identify. "This is your mother's necklace, isn't it?" My breath caught. "How did you-". "You're hurt. The concern in his tone made my chest tighten. "Tell me what happened." I gripped the phone tighter. "How did you know?" "I remember Isabella always wore this exact sapphire necklace. His voice softened with memory. "And there's blood on the metal in your pictures." My eyes darted to the broken pieces scattered on the carpet. I picked up a fragment of chain and held it to the light. Dark crimson stained the silver - so faint I'd missed it completely. He noticed that? From a phone photo? How is that even possible? The blood is barely visible. For some reason, heat crept up my neck. "It's just… a small cut. Nothing serious." "Sabi." His tone grew gentle but insistent. "You sound exhausted. Not just tired - emotionally drained. What happened tonight?" Chapter 23 The question hit too close to home. I pressed my free hand against my eyes, fighting the urge to break down completely. I'm fine. Really. "You know what? I have a superpower." The random statement caught me off guard. "What kind of superpower?" "I can hear through the phone when someone's pretending to be okay." His voice carried a hint of teasing warmth. 'Works every time." Despite everything, I found myself almost smiling. "That's not a real superpower." "It's very real. For instance, right now I can tell you desperately want someone there with you, but you're too stubborn to admit it." The accuracy of his observation stole my breath. Silence stretched between us as I fought the truth of his words. "Maybe," I whispered finally. "Then I'm coming to you." His tone shifted to one of decision. "I was just finishing some territory reports anyway." 'Caelan, you don't need to-" "Actually, I was hoping for an excuse." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Being Lycan King gets boring sometimes." "Boring?" I let out a watery laugh. "Don't you have important royal duties?" "Very important. Like making sure my future queen isn't sitting alone in a hotel room piecing together broken jewelry." My heart did something stupid in my chest. Before I could protest, he continued. "I'm already arranging the flight. Three hours, and I'll be there." "What if I refuse to see you?" - "Then I'll camp outside your hotel until you change your mind." His voice carried mock desperation. "Think of the scandal - Lycan King reduced to sleeping on sidewalks." This time my laugh was genuine. "Oh, well…" I played along with his mock-serious tone. "I suppose camping on sidewalks could be entertaining. Very avant- garde for a king." "You're so heartless. Sable Crawford, I hereby command you, as your future husband and king, not to reject my company tonight." The gentle authority in his tone sent unexpected warmth through my limbs. "Is that an official royal decree?" 'Absolutely. Disobedience will result in severe punishment." "What kind of punishment?"