I froze, finally realizing that the woman they were talking about was Mom.


    "You... You went to see my mom?" I asked in disbelief.


    "Of course," Grandma replied matter-of-factly. "She wanted to change yourst name and even acted like it was for your own good, saying it was your decision.


    "As if we''d believe that! And after everything that has happened, she owes us an apology. She owes the Ashford family an apology! She should pay for what she''s done! But when we confronted her, she actually had the nerve to—"


    "What?" I cut in, staring at them intently.


    Grandma and Aunt Shirley exchanged a quick nce before answering hesitantly, "She... She used us of onlying to her for money..."


    "Did you take the money?"


    Their hesitation spoke louder than words. In that instant, I understood everything. They didn''t go to Mom for me; they went for money.


    And this news scandal? There was a good chance they were behind it too. Maybe they had evene to me now for the same reason-money.


    I took a deep breath, struggling to contain my anger. "Leave. I don''t want to see you again."


    "Serena, what are you saying?" Grandma''s expression darkened. "We''re your family!"


    "Family?" I let out a coldugh. "Have you ever treated me like family? Have you ever cared about my feelings?"


    Aunt Shirley grew anxious. "Serena, you''ve misunderstood! We really are doing this for your own good-"


    "Enough!" I cut her off, unwilling to hear another word. "From this moment on, we have nothing to do with each other!"


    I turned away, refusing to look at them for another second.


    Grandma opened her mouth as if to say something, but I had already stopped listening. I turned around and left, not wanting to get entangled with them any further.


    Just then, my phone rang. It was a call from the Hastings residence''sndline. I hesitated for a moment before answering.


    "Hello, is this Ms. Ashford?" A stranger''s voice came through.


    "Speaking."


    "I''m a maid at the Hastings residence. Madam Burke... copsed. She''s on her way to the hospital now—"


    My heart nearly stopped, and my phone almost slipped from my fingers. "What? My mom copsed? Which hospital?"


    "C-Central Hospital..."


    I couldn''t bother with Grandma and Aunt Shirley any longer, so I ran straight toward the parking lot. couldn''t be in trouble-she just couldn''t.


    Just then, Elena passed by and nced at the two older women, who remained standing there.


    "These two... might be useful," she murmured to herself.


    When I arrived at the hospital, I spotted Mr. Hastings Senior standing outside the emergency room, his expression grim.


    The moment he saw me, he strode over, his voice filled with frustration. "You''re finally here! Do you know whaDa mess your mother''s drama has caused at thepany today?"


    I was already on edge, and hearing that only made my anger re.


    "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I snapped. "My mom is in there fighting for her life, and this is what you care about?"


    "Am I wrong?" He didn''t back down. "If it weren''t for you and your mother, thepany wouldn''t be in chaos now!"


    "Mr. Hastings Senior!" I roared, fury zing through me. "You were the one who insisted on taking responsibility for my mom back then! And now that something has happened, you''re ming everything on us? Do you even call yourself a man?"


    He was stunned by my outburst, his face alternating between pale and flushed.