Nico and Mrs. Maria now lived in a small apartment that was far from the luxury of their previous mansion. Mrs. Maria sat at the dining table, staring blankly out the window.  

"You can't live like this forever, Nico," she said finally. "You have to rise up. Not just for yourself, but for Calvin."  

Nico sat in front of her, his face looking tired. "I'm trying, Mom. But every step I take feels like a dead end."  

Mrs. Maria grasped her son's hand. "You're not alone. I'm here to help you. And I'm sure, one day, Celine will realize her mistake."  

Nico smiled a little, though his heart was still...