Elena woke up very early the next morning because she had a strange feeling in her chest. She didn't know if it was fear, or worry, or just the stress of the past two days. She stood up from the small bed she shared with David sometimes and looked around their tiny room. David was still asleep, breathing slowly like a child. His hair was rough, and his hand was hanging off the bed. Elena sighed. She knew she was going to miss him so much when she moved to Damon Steel's mansion.
She was still thinking when she heard loud banging on the door.
"Open this door! Elena! I know you are inside!"
Her heart jumped. That voice. She knew it very well.
Vanessa.
Her mother.
Elena closed her eyes. "Not today," she whispered. "God, not today."
But the banging continued, even louder this time.
"Elena open this door before I break it!"
David woke up immediately. "What is happening? Is that Mom?"
Elena didn't even answer. She rushed to the door before her mother caused more trouble with the neighbors. She opened it quickly—and Vanessa pushed her way inside like she owned the place.
"What kind of useless child keeps her mother outside like a beggar?" Vanessa shouted.
She looked like she didn't sleep all night. Heavy makeup. Short dress. Hair smelling of smoke and alcohol. Her lipstick was smeared. She looked angry, tired, and desperate all at once.
Elena stepped back. "Why are you here this early? What do you want?"
Vanessa laughed in a bitter, annoying way. "So this is how you talk to your mother now? I heard some interesting news and I had to come."
David stood behind Elena quietly. He didn't like facing their mother. She always insulted him or asked him for money.
Vanessa walked straight to the small table and dropped her handbag. "I heard that Damon Steel asked you to move in with him."
Elena's eyes widened. "How did you know that?"
Vanessa clicked her tongue. "I have ears everywhere. You think you can hide something like that from me? I heard the man finally realized you are his daughter."
"Please stop shouting," Elena said. "The neighbors are sleeping."
"I don't care!" Vanessa screamed. "Do you think I will allow you to go and enjoy life while I suffer? Never!"
Elena took a slow breath. She knew where this was going.
Vanessa pointed a finger at her. "That man—Damon Steel—is your father. He is the one who slept with me years ago. One stupid night. He used me and threw me away like trash! He didn't even look back at me. If he hadn't rejected me, my life would have been different. I would have been a rich woman!"
David stepped forward. "Mom, please lower your voice. People will hear."
Vanessa turned sharply. "And so what? Should I be ashamed? That man ruined my life! He is the reason I am like this."
Elena clenched her jaw. "You ruined your own life, Mom. Not him."
Vanessa gasped as if Elena had slapped her. "What did you say?"
"You heard me," Elena replied, her voice shaking slightly. "You ruined your own life with all the men you kept following. You never cared about us. You left us to suffer for years."
Vanessa moved closer until her face was almost touching Elena's. "Watch your mouth."
David grabbed Elena's arm gently. He didn't want another fight.
Vanessa looked around the room again and scoffed. "I see you finally got lucky. That old man wants you in his house, right? Of course he does. Men always want fresh things. Maybe he wants you the same way he wanted me."
"Stop it!" Elena snapped. "Don't say that. He is my father."
Vanessa burst into laughter. "Father? Elena, wake up! That man doesn't care about you. He only cares about his image. You think you matter to him? If he cared, he would have found you long ago."
Elena looked away, hurt. Those words pierced her chest.
Vanessa continued talking. "If you go to that house, remember you owe me. I am the one who carried you for nine months. I am the one who gave you life. So when money starts coming, don't forget your mother."
Elena stared at her mother for a long time. She felt something break inside her. A small tiny string that she had been holding onto since childhood—the hope that her mother would someday change.
But now she knew the truth.
Her mother would never change.
"You are useless," Elena whispered before she could stop herself. "You are a useless mother."
The whole room went silent.
Vanessa's eyes widened. "What… what did you just call me?"
Elena swallowed hard. "You heard me. You left me and David to suffer. You never cared about us. You only come here when you want something. You are not a mother to us. You never were."
Vanessa raised her hand as if to slap Elena—but David rushed between them.
"Mom, don't touch her!" he shouted, his voice shaking.
Vanessa froze, shocked that David would dare raise his voice.
"You two think you are better than me?" she asked slowly. "Elena, you think moving into that big house will change who you are? You think you are special? Let me tell you something—you are nothing without me. Remember that!"
Elena felt anger rise inside her chest like a burning fire. "I am nothing because of you," she said. "Not without you."
Vanessa smiled angrily. "Fine. Fine! Go! Go to your precious father. When money starts entering your pocket, don't forget who gave birth to you. And if you forget me, I swear I will cause trouble you will never forget."
David couldn't take it anymore. Tears filled his eyes.
"Why can't you just be a mother for once?" he asked. "Why can't you love us?"
Vanessa froze for a moment. She looked at David, then looked away quickly, like his tears made her uncomfortable.
She grabbed her bag and headed to the door. "I don't have time for this emotional nonsense. But remember my words. Don't forget me."
She slammed the door so hard the walls shook.
The apartment became quiet again.
David sat on the floor and wiped his face roughly. "Why does she always do this? Why does she treat us like strangers?"
Elena knelt beside him and hugged him tight. "I don't know, David. But I promise you one thing… I will never be like her."
David cried harder. "I don't want you to leave. What if she comes again? What if something happens?"
Elena held him even tighter. "I will always come back to you. I will never leave you alone."
He nodded against her shoulder. "I'm scared."
"I know," she whispered. "Me too."
Elena didn't sleep again that morning. She sat by the window, thinking about everything—her mother's words, Damon Steel, moving into a strange mansion, and leaving David alone.
Her life was about to change completely.
But she didn't know if it was for good or bad.
And deep down, she feared one thing:
That her mother was right.
That Damon Steel didn't want her because she was his daughter, but because she was just another problem he needed to control.
Elena stared at the sunrise, scared but ready.
Whatever was coming next… she had no choice but to face it.