Jake's eyes widened at the sight before him.
"No… No, this can't be. There must be a mistake," he stammered, voice cracking. "She's… she's just asleep." He let out a strange, broken laugh, denial clouding his eyes. His breathing became shallow as he took a shaky step forward."Please… try waking her up," he pleaded, glancing at the police officer, then back at Aurora. "I know she's fine. Just try waking her up."
His voice trembled with desperation as unshed tears clung to his lashes.
Aurora couldn't take it anymore. Seeing Jake—her strong, composed Jake—breaking like this shattered something inside her. She fell to her knees beside him, her own sobs growing louder.
"Jake…" she whispered.
Jake suddenly turned to her, wild-eyed. "Hey, Aurora, listen to me… just ask her to brush your hair… or massage it. She'll do it if you ask! She listens to you!"Jake, please," Aurora reached for him gently, "you need to get a grip on yourself…"
"Don't you dare touch me, Aurora!" he snapped, voice sharp with pain. "Just ask her to wake up! She can hear you—just call her!"
Jake stumbled toward the body and collapsed at Sadash's feet. "Mom… Mom, please don't do this to me," he sobbed. "You know I don't have anyone else. My wealth… all this power… it means nothing without you, Mom!"
His entire body trembled as he wept. Jake scott the man the world feared was reduced to a broken little boy in that moment.
"If only… if only I hadn't left you with them," he choked out. "You would have been safe with me. You would have been alive…"
The guilt pierced his heart like a dagger. His fist pounded the marble floor beneath him.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
His scream echoed through the mansion, raw and haunting."Why? Why did this happen? Who the hell did this to you!?"
"Jake… please stop," Aurora cried, reaching out. "You're hurting yourself—please!"
But Jake turned toward her slowly, eyes filled with rage and heartbreak."You know what?" he said, voice low but full of venom. "This is all your fault." Aurora froze. "What…?"
"She wouldn't have died if she had just lived with me!" he spat, glaring at her with hatred she had never seen before. "She stayed here—for you. She died because of you."
Aurora's lips trembled. "Jake… how can you say such a thing? I loved her too. I—I would never put her in harm's way…"
Jake's chest heaved as he stepped back. "Don't." Aurora wiped her tears with the back of her palm, staring at him in disbelief.
"ENOUGH!!" His voice boomed through the room. Aurora flinched. The pain in his words was worse than any slap.She looked at him and knew… this wasn't just anger. This was betrayal. In his eyes, she had become his enemy."O God," she whispered, trembling. "What have I done to deserve this?"
"Guard, take her to her room."
"Jake, honey… please, just listen to me. You don't mean any of this please."
"I said send her out," he growled, without looking back. "Madam, please… this way," the guard said softly, trying not to upset her further.Aurora pulled her arm away, voice firm despite her tears. "Don't you dare touch me."
Jake softened slightly. "Just be patient with her," he said, still facing away. "But send her out." The guard bowed slightly. "Madam… please."Aurora, broken and shaking, obeyed silently.
She walked down the hallway and entered her room, locking the door behind her. Her legs gave way and she sank to the cold floor.
Tears streamed down her face as she leaned against the wall, curling up like a child.
"One day… just one day… and I've lost everything," she whispered through her sobs. "She was like a mother to me… and now Jake…" The pain of being blamed for Sadash's death cut deeper than any wound.
"I can't believe Jake actually thinks I'm the reason she died. After everything…"
She wept until her sobs faded into quiet whimpers… then silence. Exhaustion pulled her into sleep, her tear-stained face resting on the cold, hard tiles.
Back in the living room, a detective approached Jake solemnly. "Sir… we promise to find the murderer. Don't you worry at all. Just trust us." Jake stood silently, eyes still fixed on the lifeless body of the only woman who ever loved him unconditionally.