< CHAPTER 026 46 ADRIAN'S POV Inside the spacious om , I moved closer , my steps slow and hesitant . My mother sat by the window , her back slightly hunched , shoulders trembling . The dim light from outside cast a soft glow on her figure , highlighting the way she clutched our family photo to her chest . I knelt beside her , my heart pounding . " Mom , talk to me . " She didn't react immediately , only tightening her grip on the photo . The silence stretched between us , thick and suffocating . Then , finally , in a voice so quiet it barely reached me , she whispered , " They took everything from us ." Confusion knitted my brows . " Who ? " I asked , searching her face for answers . She didn't reply . Instead , her hand moved , slowly reaching for something beneath the folds of her dress . I watched in growing dread as she pulled out a cold , metallic object . The moment I realized what it was , my breath caught in my throat . A gun . I jerked back , my body tensing . " Mom ? " My voice barely came out . " What are you doing with that ? " She stared at the weapon in her hands as if mesmerized , her fingers tracing over the barrel . Her breaths came out shaky , uneven . " How could I ever recover from this ? " she murmured to herself as if I weren't even there . " I ... I can't . " Panic surged through me . My hands clenched at my sides , my mind racing for a way to stop this . " Why are you talking like this , Mom ? Put the gun down so we can talk , okay ? " I kept my voice as calm as possible , even though my heart felt like it was going to rip through my chest . But she didn't seem to hear me . She flicked off the safety , and the soft click sent a jolt of terror through my spine . " Jack ! " I yelled , my voice desperate . I needed our butler , anyone , to come and help . My mother lifted the gun , pressing the cold barrel against her temple . I swallowed , forcing my body to move toward her . " Mom , if this is some kind of joke , it ' s not funny , " I said , trying to mask my fear . At last , she looked at me . Her eyes , usually so full of warmth , were drowning in sorrow , Tears streamed down her face , but she smiled - a small , broken smile that shattered A horrifying realization hit me . She wasn't coming back from this . " Mom , wai ... " BANG . The gunshot echoed in the room , deafening . The sound slammed into me like a physical blow , and my whole body froze . For a moment , everything stopped . My cars rang . My mind refused to process what had just happened . I watched , paralyzed , as the gun slipped from her fingers , clattering to the floor . Her body slumped , her head tilting lifelessly to the side . A strangled breath left my lips . This wasn't real . It couldn't be real .. My mother - my only family - was gone . " Mom ? " My voice cracked as I reached for her , grabbing her cold , lifeless hands . They didn't squeeze back . I stared into her now - empty eyes , the warmth draining from them as blood seeped in from the wo her head . " No , no , no , " I whispered , shaking her gently . " Mom , wake up . " She didn't move . My chest felt like it was caving in . My throat burned , but no sound came out except ragged gasps . Tears blurred my vision , but I couldn't tear my gaze away from her face . Footsteps thundered down the hall , and the door burst open . " Madam ! " Jack , our butler , rushed in , his face pale . His eyes flickered to the gun on the floor , then to my trembling hands still holding my mother .. Then he looked at me . " What did you do ? " he whispered , horror flashing in his eyes . I whipped my head toward him , rage surging through my veins . " What did I do ? " My voice was sharp and dangerous . " I called for you ! I yelled for you to come help , but you weren't there ! " Realization dawned in his eyes . His lips parted slightly as he took a cautious step forward . " Sir , I ... I swear , this wasn't my fault . Your mother dismissed all of us today . She sent us away . We were only following her orders . " His words barely registered . I couldn't process anything beyond the lifeless body in front of me . " Why ? " My voice was barely a whisper now . " Why would she do this to me ? " Jack didn't have an answer . 20 CHAPTER 026 His hands fumbled for his phone , and he quickly dialed for emergency services . But what could they do ? What could anyone do ? It was already too late . Minutes passed in a blur . The sound of sirens filled the air , followed by hurried . footsteps . EMTs rushed into the room . I barely noticed them . My hands were still clutching my mother's as they tried to pull me away . " Sir , please ... " " Let me go ! " I struggled , my heart pounding erratically . A strong grip held me back as they reached for my mother . My muscles tensed , but I was powerless against them . I could only watch as they placed her in a cadaver pouch . The zipper closed . Just like that , she was gone . My legs buckled , and I sank to the floor , my fingers digging into the carpet . A suffocating emptiness swallowed me whole as tears flooded down my cheeks . Then a familiar voice cut through the haze . " Adrian . " I lifted my head slowly . Standing before me was our family's private investigator . His expression was grim , his presence solid and unwavering . He crouched beside me , placing a firm hand on my shoulder . " I'm sorry for your loss , " he said quietly . The words didn't feel real . Nothing did , He hesitated before speaking again . " I'm going to do my best to find out what happened ... what made her do this . " His voice held certainty . A promise , I swallowed the lump in my throat , using the back of my hands to clean off the tears . Something had driven her to this . Something had shattered my mother so completely that she saw no way out . And I needed to know what it was . 3/3