The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 264

Chapter 264

Aria’s POV

P:.

I raced to the elevator, punching the button repeatedly as if that would make it arrive faster. The ride felt endless, my heart hamentering against my ribs as I watched the numbers slowly climb. When the doors finally opened, I spotted Sophia immediately, Sunched in a glute

chair, her body visibly trembling.

She looked up as I approached, her face ashen, eyes red–rimmed and swollen. When she saw me, something crumbled in her expres

She stumbled forward, collapsing into my arms with such force 1 nearly lost my balance.

“My mom jumped from the roof,” she sobbed against my shoulder. “She was doing better, Aria. The medication was working. I dont

understand…”

I tightened my grip around her shaking body. “What happened?” The question felt inadequate, but I couldn’t find better words

“I don’t know,” Sophia pulled back slightly, her eyes unfocused. “She was stable for days. Then yesterday, she started getting agitated again. She kept saying she failed as a mother, that she couldn’t believe she raised a daughter like me… Her voice cracked. “By the time !

got to the roof, she was already…”

A sob cut off her words. I guided her back to the chairs, keeping an arm around her shoulders.

The double doors to the surgical area swung open. A doctor emerged, his face grim beneath the harsh fluorescent lighting. My stomach

dropped at his expression.

“Ms. Kim?” he asked, his voice professionally neutral.

Sophia nodded, her fingers digging painfully into my arm as she rose.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor said, removing his surgical mask. “We did everything we could, but your mother’s injuries were too severe. She passed away a few minutes ago.”

I felt Sophia sway beside me. Her face went blank, as if her mind couldn’t process the words. Then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed against me, suddenly limp and heavy.

“Sophia!” I caught her as best I could, struggling under her weight. “I need help here!”

The doctor rushed forward, and together we lowered her to the floor. My heart pounded with fresh fear as medical staff converged around

1. us.

The steady beep of a heart monitor pulled me from my thoughts. I sat beside Sophia’s hospital bed, watching her chest rise and fall, The doctor had said she’d fainted from shock and exhaustion–nothing physically wrong besides dehydration and stress.

1/2

9:27 Tue, Jan 6

Chapter 264

200

Her eyelids fluttered, then opened. For a moment, she stared at the ceiling, confusion evident in her expression. Then memory returner.

and pain flooded her features.

“Aria Her voice was small, childlike.

I’m here. I leaned forward, taking her hand. It felt cold in mine.

Her eyes, dark and hollow, met mine. “My mom’s not really dead, right? That was just a nightmare?”

I swallowed hard. “Sophia…” Words failed me.

Understanding dawned in her eyes, followed by a wave of grief so raw it was painful to witness. Then something in her expression shifted.

“I texted you,” she said, her voice suddenly hard. “I texted you so many times last night. Why didn’t you answer?”

The accusation caught me off guard. “I–I didn’t see the messages until this morning. I’m so sorry.”

“You always check your phone,” she cut me off, pulling her hand from mine. “If you had answered, maybe we could have stopped her. Maybe we could have found her before she got to the roof.”

Guilt twisted in my stomach. I had been with Devon, had deliberately ignored my phone. Could I have prevented this if I’d seen Sophia’s

messages?

“I’m sorry,” I said again, feeling utterly inadequate.

Sophia stared at me, her breathing ragged. “Please go. I need to be alone right now.”

“Sophia-”

“It’s not your fault,” she added quickly. “I’m just… I can’t do this right now.”