Chapter 175 Final Farewell

Chapter 175 Final Farewell
Nicholas POV

Cherry and I burst into Sophia's room. She's slumped on the edge of her bed, a crimson stain spreading across the silk sheets. Her frail frame heaves with a wet, rattling cough, and as she tries to speak, another spray of blood paints her lips.

My gut twists, but I freeze at the threshold, jaw locked, as Cherry stumbles forward, heedless of the mess soaking into her dress. She kneels beside Mom, hands trembling as they clutch hers. "Sophia, we're here. It's going to be okay."

I force my feet to stay rooted, though every instinct screams to do something—anything. "We need to get you to a hospital," I say, already fumbling for my phone. But Mom shakes her head, her grip on Cherry tightening.

"No, Nicholas," she rasps, each word a labored fight. "No hospital. They can't help. This poison… there's nothing they can do about it." Her voice cracks, but her will doesn't. "I want to stay here. My last moments… in my home."

I glance at Cherry, hoping she'll push back, but her face mirrors my own powerlessness. Swallowing hard, I help ease Mom back onto the bed. Each shallow rise of her chest feels like a ticking clock, counting down to an end I'm not ready to face.

"I'll get the others," I mutter, my voice hollow as I turn to the maids, telling them to summon the family still in the estate.

Soon, somber figures begin to trickle into the space. Despite her fading strength, Mom insists on speaking. She addresses us one by one, her final wishes delivered with a clarity that defies her state.

"Cherry," she starts, eyes locking on her, "promise me… look after Nicholas. Protect him. And yourself. Without you, this boy… I don't know what he'd become." The plea stabs at me, her fear for me laid bare. Cherry nods, tears gleaming in her eyes.

"Nicholas," she turns to me as I kneel beside her, "I can't shield everyone anymore. Don't let hatred consume you. I give my blessing to your plans… the legitimate business. Do it well." My face hardens, but I nod, gripping her hand like it's the only thing tethering me to the ground.

"Johnny, let go of the past. Look forward," she whispers, and Johnny's haunted gaze flickers. "Vincent, you're young. Stop chasing fleeting pleasures. Help Nicholas when you can. His burden… It's too heavy alone."

She pauses, scanning the room. "Eric… where's Eric?"

As if summoned, Eric stumbles in, guided by a maid, face flushed with panic. He hears her faint call and collapses to his knees beside the bed. "Mom, I'm here," he chokes, tears streaming.

Cherry and I step back, giving him room. Mom's voice, barely a breath now, reaches him. "Eric, slow down. No more foolish mistakes. Nina needs you…" Eric sobs, broken vows spilling out. "I won't, Mom. I swear, no more."

A ghostly smile curves her lips, tinged with sorrow. Then her eyes flutter shut, her face holding that faint, peaceful look. The room drowns in silence, save for Eric's muffled cries. I feel my own grief rising, a storm I can't let loose.

I force myself to stand, supporting Cherry as her legs waver. "Go rest, Cherry. I don't want this… affecting the baby." She shakes her head, stubborn as ever. "No. Sophia… she gave me a warmth I never got from my own mother. I have to see this through. I have to be here for her."

I don't fight her. The next few days blur into a haze of pain and duty. I arrange Mom's funeral with cold precision, honoring Italian traditions—a grand, somber affair befitting a Salvatore matriarch. Cherry refuses to retreat, standing by me through every detail, even as her body must be screaming for rest.

At the burial in the family crypt, beneath the estate's ancient stones, the air reeks of incense and unspoken tension. Darcy, the other group leaders, and representatives from allied factions arrive from across the states, their black suits a sea of mourning. Russell, fresh from the hospital, attends, his sobs loud and raw—though I can't gauge if they're genuine. Nina is conspicuously absent, barred from this final rite due to her role in Mom's poisoning. I didn't even have the maids notify her that night Mom passed.

During the coffin-sealing and flower-offering, I keep a protective arm around Cherry's waist. Her fingers lace through mine, squeezing tight. "I'm with you through this," she whispers, voice thick. I press a grateful kiss to the back of her hand, letting it carry all I can't say.

Once the rites end, I see the exhaustion crash over her, her body shaking despite her efforts to hide it. Without a word, I hand off the remaining tasks to my men and guide her back to our room. I lay her on the bed, trying to ease the unbearable air with a forced smirk. "Baby, have I been too caught up with family business to take care of you and little Christina?"

"With Sophia gone, it's just us now, isn't it?" She manages a weak, bitter smile, hands resting on her belly.

Sophia's last words echo in my mind. Perhaps she's right. I do need to find someone to hold this with me. "We're not alone. I'll give Vincent a chance to step up, let him take on some responsibilities to ease the load."

A knock cuts us off. Darcy steps in, expression guarded. "I need to talk," she says, glancing between us. She lays out her plan to leave Chicago temporarily, citing the rising dangers and her fear of being used against us. "I'm not running," she insists. "I can set up a safe base in California, handle the casino legalization there. It's a trusted hand we need, and if things worsen here, you'll have a fallback."

Cherry nods slowly. "But I worry about you alone out there. We don't know how far the enemy's reach extends."

I narrow my eyes, skepticism biting at me. "Your leaving might embolden Russell or others to act unchecked."

Darcy's gaze holds steady. "I'll be careful. I'm not abandoning you. This is preparation." Cherry's still uneasy, and Darcy shifts focus. "Cherry, you look like you could pop any day. What's the doctor saying?"

A small, real smile tugs at Cherry's lips as she touches her belly. "They say anytime in the next month." I see the flicker of anticipation in her, a stark contrast to the early days of fear.

I agree to let Darcy depart after Cherry's delivery, buying us time. As she exits, Cherry turns to me, her voice edged with concern. "Nicholas, has Lennie found anything on Russell yet? I noticed his crying at the funeral seemed overdone, like he was putting on a show."

So Cherry had the same feeling as I do. I nod, remembering Lennie's report just this morning. "He has. Russell has repeated contact with a supposed doctor at the hospital. Don't know who yet."

Her eyes narrow. "I've got a bad feeling about it. Push Lennie to keep digging."

"I will," I respond, my instincts roaring that Russell's playing a deeper game.