Officers rushed in.

Claire struggled—but dropped something.

A scalpel.

Ethan broke free and ran to me.

“Mom…”

With everything I had left—

I squeezed his hand.

Hard.

“She’s awake!” he cried.

I forced my eyes open.

Light burned. Everything blurred.

But I saw him.

My son.

Alive.

Safe.

“I’m here,” I whispered.

Ryan shouted as they arrested him.

Claire screamed.

“She always had everything!”

And finally, I understood.

This wasn’t just greed.

It was years of jealousy.

Hidden. Growing.

Deadly.

Months later…

I was still healing.

Physically. Emotionally.

But every time I opened my eyes—

Ethan was there.

My will protected him.