I was terrified of losing my mother. I was afraid she''d really jump.


    "Alex, what do I do? What should I do?" I choked out between sobs.


    Alex held my shoulders firmly, making me look at him. His gaze was steady as he said, "Serena, trust me. Madam Burke will be fine. She wouldn''t suddenly do this unless someone was behind it."


    I lifted my head and looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"


    Alex frowned and said in an icy tone, "You''ve seen Madam Burke''s conditiontely. She has depression, yes, but she wasn''t at the point of wanting to take her own life. Someone must have said something to her or done something to push her over the edge."


    My heart sank. Could it really be that someone deliberately wanted to harm my mother?


    But who would do such a thing?


    He slowly approached my mother while speaking in a gentle voice. "Madam Burke, it''s me, Alex. Do you remember me? Please,e back over here. Let''s talk, okay?"


    Mom''s eyes were still vacant and unfocused as if she hadn''t heard a word he said. Suddenly, her body lurched forward. My heart jumped to my throat.


    Without thinking, I lunged toward her, grabbing onto the hem of her clothes with all my strength. "Mom! No!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as my vision blurred with tears.


    Half of her body was already hanging over the edge. The wind whipped through her hair. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and her eyes were empty and lifeless.


    I could feel my grip slipping-her weight was dragging her down like a massive stone. My nails dug into her clothes while I desperately tried to hold on.


    "Serena!" Alex shouted as he rushed forward and grabbed Mom''s arm.


    Lucas reacted quickly too, wrapping his arms around my waist to keep me from being pulled down with her.


    The three of us clung to each other, like fragile leaves trembling in the wind, teetering on the edge of the rooftop.


    My arms burned with pain, and my strength rapidly drained. Mom felt heavier and heavier, and my fingers were slipping.


    "Hold on, Serena!" Lucas shouted in my ear in a voice hoarse from exertion.


    Alex''s face was twisted with strain and veins started bulging on his forehead. Gritting his teeth, he summoned every ounce of strength he had to pull her up.


    "Madam Burke, please! Just hold on!" he yelled with desperation.


    Just when I thought I couldn''t hold on any longer, a sudden surge of strength rushed through me. I pulled with everything I had, and at the same time, Alex gave onest powerful tug.


    Finally, we managed to pull Mom back. All three of us copsed onto the rooftop, gasping for breath.


    I clutched Mom tightly and sobbed uncontrobly. I didn''t dare to imagine what


    would have happened if we had been just one second toote.


    She was rushed to the emergency room.


    I sat outside in the hallway,pletely drained.


    Alex sat beside me, handing me a cup of warm water. His voice was soft but firm


    as he said, "Serena, Elena is behind thistest scandal."


    I froze. Elena? Why would she do this?


    Then it hit me-Mom was in the emergency room because of her Rage surged through me. I would never let that woman get away with this shot to my feet, turning to leave.


    "Serena!"


    A hand grabbed my arm tightly.


    I turned back to see Lucas. He had been standing there silently the entire time.