I Thought Love Meant Staying, Until She Taught Me Otherwise

Terence's POV

Queenie knew my mother was the only family I had left. And yet, she still chose to do that.

For a moment, the memory of our sweet proposal flashed through my mind. But it collided violently with the scene I’d just witnessed. Together, they twisted into a blade that stabbed straight through my chest.

Tears streamed silently down my face. I shook my head and whispered, “She’s already dead.”

Then I placed the ring on the car’s console, shut my eyes, and prayed my mother would still make it.

But when I carried her, barely breathing, to the hospital, the doors were locked.

A security guard barked, “No one’s allowed in. Ms. Hawkins’s beloved is having surgery tomorrow. The entire hospital is on standby. No interruptions.”

I stepped forward, clutching my mother tighter.

The guard saw me and froze. Panic flashed across his face.

“S-Sir, those are Ms. Hawkins’s direct orders. I can’t go against them. Maybe try calling her?”

I snatched his phone and dialed that all-too-familiar number.

As soon as she picked up, I tremblingly begged, “Queenie, my mom fell. It’s bad. Please, let me in. Let the doctors take a look. Please.”

But all I heard on the other end was a mocking laugh.

“Save her?” she scoffed. “And why should I? Terence, remember, she's your mother, not mine.”

Just three sentences, yet they shattered what was left of my heart.

But I didn’t stop. I kept begging, swallowing every bit of pride I had left.

“Queenie… please. My mom was always so good to you. Just for that, I’m begging—”

But then, she hung up.

I called again, hands shaking uncontrollably, but this time I was met with a cold, automated message.

"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try your call later."

Just like that, my last thread of hope was cut.

My mom’s breathing was growing shallower by the second.

As such, I snapped.

Grabbing a fire extinguisher, I charged the locked doors. Glass shattered everywhere, slicing into my skin, but I didn’t feel a thing. All that mattered was getting her inside.

The guards hesitated, stunned by how wild I looked. None of them dared stop me.

Shortly, a doctor on duty rushed over, wheeled her to a bed, and immediately began examining her.

Barely two minutes passed, and he stepped back, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. We did everything we could. Her pupils have dilated. You should start preparing for the worst.”

I stood there frozen, my ears ringing. Then my knees gave out, and I collapsed to the floor.

“No… no, this can’t be happening.”

I looked up at the doctor, eyes filled with desperation. “Please. I’m begging you, save my mom. She’s all I have left in this world!”

The doctor looked torn, sighing heavily. “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but she’s already gone too far. If you’d come even a few minutes earlier, maybe…”

Sighing, he added, “Now, unless you can get the top cardiac specialist in this hospital, there’s nothing anyone else can do. But he’s upstairs in a private consultation and—”

I didn’t wait for him to finish.

I grabbed the hospital bed and pushed it straight toward the elevator.

When the doors slid open, I saw Queenie. She was gently helping Jeremy out of bed, like he was some fragile treasure.

But the second she looked up and saw me, her tenderness vanished and was replaced with disgust.

“Terence,” she snapped, “Who let you in here? What if you scared Jeremy?! Get out!”

I ignored the sting of her words and dropped to my knees right there. “Queenie, please… I’m begging you… Let the cardiac specialist take a look at my mother. She’s barely hanging on.”