<b>Chapter </b><b>104 </b>


    Elena’s POV:


    Maxcester City. The words stared back at me from the white of the eptance letter, a single line beneath the bold heading of Legacy Motors


    The HQ of Legacy. The very heart of the global automotive empire I’d <b>only </b>ever dreamed of being a part of


    I felt confused. I didn’t know whether tough or <b>cry</b>.


    Better facilities, unparalleled opportunities–the rational part of my brain screamed with excitement. This was it. The chance i’d been working towards. the validation of years of dedication andte nights fueled by lukewarm coffee and sheer willpower.


    But then the cold reality crashed down on me, once again. A three–hour drive. How could I possibly manage thatmute every single day? The thought of spending six hours on the road, on top of <b>a </b>demanding internship, was enough to make my already weary bodyache.


    It wasn’t just about the time; it was the sheer physical toll it would take.


    And then there was Mom. The image of her tired face, etched with worry lines that seemed to deepen with each passing day, shed before my eyes.


    It’s not like I could just tell her to go with me, especially not when she finally seemed to be <b>finding </b>a semnce of routine with her job


    Before all this mess–before Dmitri’s betrayal, before Dad’s passing, before Mom’s heart scare, and most importantly, before the life growing inside me- 1 would have insisted. I would have told her to <b>resign</b>, packed our bags, and dragged her along with me, my enthusiasm overriding any objections she might have.


    But now, everything was different. The weight of the tiny life within me added an entirely newyer of responsibility, a profound shift in perspective. knew, with certainty, that she would never agree to rely on me <b>so </bpletely now


    Especially with a grandchild on the way. She wouldn’t allow me to spend my money on her. Even though I’d always anticipated the day I could take care of her. The roles were supposed to reverse eventually, with mu taking care of her, not the other way around. I wanted her to rx now that she was nearing sixty


    A sigh escaped my lips.


    <b>I’d </b>left Mielle Last night near the university gates, watching her climb into the back of a casil’d gged down for her.


    She’d insisted i take it, but the bus felt like a safer choice without the pressure <b>of </b><b>polite </b>conversation. I hadn’t <b>been </b><b>able </b>to bring myself to look at the eptance email <b>again</b>.


    The sheer shock of the location had sent my heart racing. It felt incredibly unfair, a cruel twist of fate delivered just when a sliver of hope had begun to


    bloom.


    So, I’d <b>kept </b>the full details to <b>myself</b>, offering Mielle a vague hum of agreement. Aher all, no matter howfortable and connected we’d felt in that brief hour or so, it didn’t mean I could just spill all myplicated life problems onto her so easily. The idea of burdening her with this felt premature, almost


    ridiculous.


    The exams were finally over. All that remained was the graduation ceremony. Then<b>, </b>I’d finally say goodbye to the university grounds, the constant, unwee reminders of my past life fading into memory. No more idental run–ins with <b>Dmitri </b>in the crowded hallways. <b>No </b>more of Lacar’s unsettling presence lurking behind me.


    Things had been strangely <b>quiet </b>these past few weeks, a deceptive calm that left me feeling oddly on edge, like the silence before a storm.


    My mind drifted back to Priya. Her face haunted my thoughts. How would her family be feeling right now? The raw, gaping wound of loss. Probably devastated. I understood that kind of pain all too well I’d lost Dad.


    Who exactly was this serial killer preying on the city? The news reports were vigue, sensationalizing the horror without providing any real answers. Why was he only targeting women of color? Was that truly the sole motive? The questions swirled in my mind, leaving a knot of unease in my stomach.


    12:33 <b>Tue</b>, 29 JUI GUJ


    ?


    <b>I </b>swallowed. Mom hadn’t entered my mom today.


    She’d alreadye back from work. I heard the sound of the keys and her shoes fid cooked dinner when she was at work nothing vegetable soup apanied by toasted gailit beraid,


    L


    I should probably get up and heat the leftover food. A groan escaped my lips as I sluggishly pushed myself off the bed, the lethargy of early pregnancy. clinging to me like a heavy nket.


    My feet dragged against the worn carpet as I made my way down the stair


    My head turned left as I reached thending, and frowned. Mom was sprawled out on the couch. Was she sapping?


    At this hour? It was almost six in the evening. And she hadn’t even had dinner yet. A knot of worry tightened in my stomach.


    Imade my way over to the couch and bent down to gently take her hand. Her skin didn’t feel overly warm, reassuring me that a fever was the cause of her unusual slumber. Her hands weren’t too cold either.


    She jolted awake at my touch, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked <b>a </b>few times, trying to orient herself, then groggily sat up, pushing a stray strand of <b>silver</b>–streaked hair from her forehead. “You’re here? Oh…right. I forgot you weren’t in university today” She yawned and I frowned, my concern deepening


    “Sorry, honey,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes with the back of her <b>hand</b>.


    But I shook my head. “I was feeling a little lethargic myself, so I didn’te down to greet you earlier. Are you feeling okay?” I asked, my voiceced with genuine worry. She chuckled softly. “Oh, nothing just getting older is all. Don’t worry your pretty little <b>head </b>about it. Ah. I didn’t make dinner, did 17” she said, a hint of guilt in her voice, and I pursed my lips


    She looked utterly exhausted, the shadows under her eyes more pronounced than usual. Mom was already fifty–eight. How much longer until she could finally retire, put her feet up, and enjoy the fruits of her years of hardbor?


    How would I be able to properly care for her in the future if I didn’t quickly secure a stable, well–paying job?


    I didn’t know why I was even agonizing over the internship decision so much. An internship at Legacy wasn’t just an incredible opportunity, a golden ticket into <b>the </b>industry, but it also came with a fixed ie for six months- <b>a </b>substantial amount that could truly make a difference to our current Financial situation. <b>And </b>beyond that, the experience and the Legacy name on my resume would undoubtedly make it significantly easier tond a permanent job afterwards, even if that job had a slightly lower starting ie than the internship. That would be then, though. So months felt like a


    lifetime away.


    “No, it’s alright, Mom, I already made dinner,” I said, forcing a reassuring smile <b>as </b>I turned and made my way towards the kitchen. I reached for the stove, turning the burners and the oven on My hand instinctively went to my abdomen,


    So, I’d <b>already </b>made up my mind, <b>hadn’t </b>17 I was keeping the baby


    <b>So</b>… was I going topletely hide this <b>pregnancy </b>from Niki? My mind <b>had a </b>sudden, vivid shback of his face, his brow furrowed with concern as he stood next to the kitchen iste


    <b>No</b>… I wasn’t going topletely hide it, not in the long run. However, wouldn’t tell him just yet. Not until thest couple of month when it would be undeniably obvious. A strange sense <b>of </b>guilt twisted in my gut at the thought of keeping such a significant secret.


    I knew that sounded… bad, perhaps even maniptive. But it wasn’t like i’d ever ask him forpensation orch deserved to know that he was the father. After that, whether he wanted <b>to </b>actively contribute to the child’s fe or not wouldn’t hold it against him, not really. Because ultimately, it was my own choice to keep the baby, wasn’t it?”


    ort. He, at the very least, that would be his decision. I


    Without even realizing it, I’d alreadyid the table with steaming bowls of soup <b>and </b>slices of golden <b>garlic </b>bread, I was now staring nkly off into space when Mom’s gentle voice jolted me back to the present. She was setting down the cutlery, her brow furrowed with concern


    “You okay, honey? Worried about… something?” she asked softly, her eyes moving instinctively down to my stomach, a knowing look in their <b>depths </b>that


    <b>2/3 </b>


    made me swallow hard. Had she already guessed? Was it that obvious?


    As we both settled at the table, the aroma of the simple meal filling the air, I knew the moment had arrived Now or never. The longer I held it off the harder it would be to finally break the news to her,


    “Mom…I…” She looked at me, her eyes shining with a glint of hopeful anticipation that hoisted my domach info knots knew what she was thinking what she desperately wanted to hear.


    topened my mouth. “1—”