Meanwhile, Molly had finally relented to the exchange, arranging for a massive sum of money to be dropped off at a designated location. The Lowries, a powerful and influential family, had helped facilitate the exchange, hoping to bring an end to the ordeal.
But just as the drop-off was taking place, Robert Gonzales appeared out of nowhere and shot Molly dead. Her body crumpled to the ground, and Robert sneered at her lifeless form.
"You'll never know your real daughter, asshole." Molly spat at Robert, her voice laced with venom, even in death.
"No, no..." James's body crumpled as he watched from down the street. His heart broke into shatters, seeing Molly's body fall. It was a lethal shot; she bled out before she could even be comforted by him.
The Lowries' men quickly sprang into action, capturing Robert and exchanging him for Selena. But their mercy was short-lived, as they brutally killed Robert and the cartel members, leaving a trail of blood and destruction in their wake.
A cleaner was called in to remove the bodies, erasing any evidence of the violent exchange. The Los Locos, realizing they had been outmaneuvered, launched a desperate attack. But they were no match for the Blackwater operatives, who eliminated them with ruthless efficiency. Jonathan had activated everyone to enact his revenge.
They strung up the cartel members on trees. Body parts hanging like Christmas ornaments around their hideout. Robert Gonzales and all of his family were dead. His wife and children died.
Selena, finally free from her captors, was rushed to the hospital, where she began the long and arduous process of detoxing from the heroin that had been forced upon her. Her body was weak, starved, and savagely beaten. Selena's mind was foggy, but she was alive, and that was all that mattered.
As she lay in her hospital bed, surrounded by the beeping of machines and the sterile smell of antiseptic, Selena couldn't help but think of Molly, who had given her life to save hers.
Tears streamed down her face as she mourned the loss of her mother again, her heart heavy with grief. She left behind her 2-year-old sons, Greyson and James.
Selena's mind wandered back to a conversation she had with her grandmother, her words echoing in her mind like a haunting prophecy. "You can't change a predetermined event, Selena," he had said. "If you try, there will be consequences."
Selena's thoughts were consumed by the memory of Molly. She was recovering from being in a drugged state like last time, and Molly was dead. The pain of losing Molly was still fresh, and Selena couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that had settled in her heart.
Selena's mind was filled with the weight of responsibility, the crushing burden of knowing that she had been unable to change the course of events. It was always her fault, she thought, the guilt and self-blame eating away at her like a corrosive acid.
Why had she been unable to save Molly? Why had she been powerless to change the outcome of events? The questions swirled in her mind, taunting her with their unanswerable manner. She was so certain that she prevented her death, and Molly was so happy.
Eun Ho's heels clicked on the floor as she strode into her daughter's room, her heart heavy with concern. She had been by Selena's side since the moment she was admitted to the hospital, her mind reeling with the thought of what her daughter had endured.
As she approached Selena's bedside, Eun Ho's thoughts flashed back to the moment her daughter was brought into the hospital. Selena had been in a state of utter distress, her body battered and bruised from the physical abuse she had suffered at the hands of her captors.
The doctors had quickly gotten to work, administering medication to counteract the effects of the heroin that had been forced upon her. Eun Ho remembered the look of desperation in Selena's eyes as she struggled to come to terms with what had happened to her.
The withdrawal process had been agonizing, with Selena experiencing intense physical and emotional pain. She had endured five days of hell, her body wracked with spasms, her mind clouded by the lingering effects of the heroin.
Eun Ho had watched in horror as her daughter's body contorted in agony, her skin slick with sweat, her eyes sunken with exhaustion. The medical staff had done everything they could to ease Selena's suffering, but it had been a long and difficult road to recovery.
As Eun Ho gazed at her daughter now, she saw the toll that the ordeal had taken on Selena's body and mind. Her daughter's eyes were haunted, her skin pale and drawn. But despite everything she had endured, Selena's spirit remained unbroken, her determination to overcome her ordeal a testament to her strength and resilience.
Eun Ho's voice was soft and soothing as she comforted her daughter, who had been crying again. "Oh, Moon, I'm so sorry," she whispered, using Selena's Korean nickname. She wrapped her arms around Selena, holding her close as she stroked her hair.
Selena looked much better now, physically at least. The hospital stay had helped her recover from the ordeal, and the medical staff had done an excellent job of patching her up. But Eun Ho knew that the emotional scars would take much longer to heal.
She had excused Selena from school, knowing that she didn't need the added stress of exams and classes right now. Her professors had all agreed, understanding that Selena needed time to recuperate.
Eun Ho had already made arrangements for Selena to spend some time at her grandmother's side, where she could relax and recover in a peaceful and loving environment. The thought of her mother's warm and nurturing presence was just what Selena needed right now.
"We'll go to Halmoni's house together, okay?" Eun Ho said, using the Korean term for "grandmother". "You can spend some time with her and just relax- No school, no exams, no stress. Just rest and recovery and unlimited spa time."
Selena nodded, sniffling, as she buried her face in her mother's shoulder. Eun Ho held her close, feeling a deep sense of sadness and regret that her daughter had had to endure such a traumatic experience. But she was determined to do everything in her power to support Selena's recovery and help her heal from the emotional wounds she had suffered.
As James knocked on the door, Eun Ho let him in, and he wheeled in his son Greyson in a stroller. Eun Ho's eyes lit up as she played with the two-year-old, trying to distract him as James and Selena had a heartfelt conversation.
"Dad?" Selena called out, her voice weak but emotional. James looked like a shell of himself. He was thinner and sallow, his face devoid of any feeling. He was a shell.
"Daddy?" Selena cried. James's face contorted with emotion as he awkwardly but lovingly hugged his bruised, battered, thin, and IV'd daughter. "It was my fault," Selena sobbed, her body shaking with grief.
James quickly reassured her, "No, kiddo, it was Robert's fault. Molly left you a letter, and I don't blame you for anything. I love you, and you'll always be my kiddo."
As they hugged and cried, Eun Ho watched, trying to hold back her tears. She gently distracted Greyson, playing with him to keep him occupied.
After a while, James said his goodbyes, telling Selena that she needed to rest, eat, and get better. He left with Greyson, leaving Selena to read the heart-wrenching letter from Molly.
Selena's eyes welled up with tears as she carefully opened the last letter Molly would ever write to her. The words blurred together on the page as she closed her eyes, memories of her mother's beautiful face flooding her mind. She brought the envelope to her nose, inhaling deeply, and was enveloped by the familiar scent of her mother's perfume. The smell was like a warm hug, transporting her back to a time when Molly was still by her side.
Eun Ho stood frozen in the room, witnessing her daughter's anguish as she opened the envelope. Selena's sob pierced the air, and Eun Ho felt her own heart shatter into a million pieces. She was overcome with emotion, her eyes welling up with tears as she gazed at her daughter's pain.
At that moment, Eun Ho felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Molly. She had been right – Molly would do anything for their daughter, and Eun Ho knew that she would do the same. The realization filled her with a sense of solidarity and shared purpose, and she felt her love and appreciation for Molly swell in her chest.
With a deep breath, Selena steeled herself to look at the letter, her eyes scanning the page as she took in the familiar loops and curves of Molly's handwriting. The sight of it was like a punch to the gut, and Selena's sobs grew louder as she struggled to process her emotions. She felt like she was drowning in grief, but she couldn't look away from the letter, her eyes drinking in every word, every stroke of Molly's pen.
My dearest Selena,
I'm so sorry that I'm not there to see you grow up, get married, and have kids of your own. I'm sorry that I couldn't keep you safe. But please know that I'm proud of you, and I don't regret being your mother for a single moment.
I know you'll blame yourself for what happened to me if I die. Don't, it's not your fault. It is theirs and the tabloid site. If I hadn't been so careless, you wouldn't have been kidnapped. But I want you to know that I'm grateful for every moment we had together.
Please, Selena, take care of yourself. Watch out for Greyson and James; they need you now more than ever. And be careful around McKenna; I've seen the way she looks at you, and I fear she may harbor some grudges towards you.
I love you, Selena. More than words can express. You will always be my daughter, and I will always be proud of you.
With all my love,
Molly (Mommy #2)