---- 9 Seraphina's POV Things were going smoothly at Eric's casino. He'd made it clear to everyone that I was the one in charge, and the staff, even some of the regular clients, treated me like the true boss. I'd even brought some of my old clients here. Word spread that I had changed casinos, and they all followed me without hesitation. Life here was peaceful, though still full of surprises. Eric, it turned out, was a gentleman-something I hadn't expected. But after what had happened with Elias, I kept my distance at first. Time, though, proved him to be everything he appeared to be. He was the true gentleman I needed. Before long, we were together, and life couldn't have been better. Eric took me to meet his parents. Compared to the usual mafia family dynamic I was used to, his family felt almost... normal. His mother was warm and welcoming, and his father was surprisingly funny. ---- I liked their vibe. It felt like home in a way I hadn't expected. Ayear later, we got engaged. His parents couldn't have been happier. But when they asked if I wanted to invite my mother to the wedding, I hesitated. I didn't know if she'd wish me well or scold me once again. But after thinking about it, I decided I had to give her achance. After all, she was my mother. So, I pulled out my phone-the one I hadn't opened since I moved to Las Vegas. The thousands of texts that flooded my inbox momentarily made me lose focus. They were all from Elias and my mother. Mother didn't say much. She simply mentioned that she'd misjudged me before and that she finally saw Mireille for who she really was. She added that if I was still willing to forgive her, I could call her back. Then there was Elias. His texts-almost three- quarters of the thousands-were full of questions and frustrations. He started with simple inquiries like where I was, whether I still wanted to go to our ---- honeymoon spot, and if I was still angry at him. But as time passed, the tone shifted. He spoke about how cold I was, about how he couldn't understand why I abandoned him so easily. Then, there were the stories about his life, the casino, and how he hadn't found another woman since I left. He even mentioned how Mireille had tried to seduce him, only to be caught by my mother. The most recent messages, though, hit me the hardest. He wrote about being diagnosed with a terminal illness, possibly from years of drinking and smoking. He said he wanted to meet with me again, that his time was running out. It would have been a lie to say I didn't care. Especially when I read about his illness. I thought to myself that maybe it was time to go back home-to talk to Elias and my mother. It felt like an eternity since I'd last stepped foot in NYX. New York was as crowded and noisy as always. Eric insisted on accompanying me, but he had business to attend to, so I planned to visit Elias at the ---- hospital first before returning home. When I saw him lying in the hospital bed, tubes and an oxygen mask covering his face, my heart tightened. For a moment, I couldn't breathe. Elias sensed my presence and opened his eyes. I saw them widen in surprise, his body trying to move, but he couldn't. "shh, don't move. Rest, alright?" I whispered softly. He nodded, a single tear slipping from the corner of his eye. I stayed for a while, until he fell asleep again. Only then did I leave. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!