Selena's POV

Time dragged on, and the tension in the air grew unbearable. Charles' face turned pale as he nervously clasped his hands together. We were all waiting—waiting for the doctor to give us news.

Suddenly, the door opened. The doctor emerged, his face grim, clearly bearing bad news.

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, “Penelope is having complications with her delivery. It’s very serious… We’ve done all we can, but she’s lost the will to live. She’s not going to make it.”

I froze, struggling to process his words. Penelope was dying? The woman who had been such a persistent thorn in my side, who seemed invincible...