The World Is Mine For The Taking-Chapter 756 - 116 - Wake Up (5)

"I-I’m sorry... I must’ve come off a little rude," she said, her voice soft as she bowed her head politely, the strands of her hair falling to the sides of her face. "S-So you’re the one who’s been helping my daughter... and even helped me recover, huh...? Um, really... thank you for everything. H-How could we possibly repay you?"

"You really don’t need to worry about that," I replied, my tone calm but sincere, offering a small, reassuring smile. "I only did what felt like the right thing. I mean, I know Zeruel—and I’ve seen how hard she’s been working. She’s been juggling so much at once—supporting her little sister, trying to put food on the table, all while struggling to keep up with your medical bills at the hospital you were previously in. Honestly... she’s the kind of person who deserves every bit of help she gets."

"B-But... this must’ve cost a fortune, didn’t it?" she said, her voice trembling as her eyes widened slightly, showing a mix of disbelief and guilt. "Not only did you use so many pieces of equipment, hire medical staff, and other resources... all of that must be expensive. You even gave me a place to stay here in this establishment for more than a year. T-This is something I have to repay."

"As I said," I repeated gently, "you really don’t have to worry about it."

I leaned back slightly and crossed my arms, thinking for a moment before continuing.

"In fact, this whole experience led to something remarkable. A breakthrough."

Because of her case, we were able to develop a brand-new medicine—something that could actually cure the Eternal Sleep Disease. A disease once thought to be impossible to treat. And I was the only one capable of producing the key material required to create it.

"I-Is that... really true?" she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly, suspicion flickering behind her gaze.

It was a fair reaction. Her wariness wasn’t unfounded. After all, something this significant could easily come off as too good to be true. Like I had some kind of hidden agenda.

But I didn’t.

"Yes," I answered with unwavering calmness. "I understand your caution... but I promise you, I don’t have any hidden motives or agendas," I said, meeting her gaze squarely.

She stared into my eyes, searching for something beneath the surface—some sign of deception, or perhaps a crack in my sincerity. But after a quiet moment, her shoulders slowly relaxed, and her expression softened. She believed me.

"S-Still... I really can’t find a way to repay your generosity," she murmured, her voice quiet but firm. "So... the only thing I can truly offer you is my heartfelt thanks."

"And that’s perfectly fine with me," I said simply. "Your thanks is more than enough."

As those words settled between us, she seemed to pause again—like she had more to say, or maybe was still weighing something heavy in her heart. But after a few heartbeats, her lips curved into a smile. A real one. This time, it wasn’t strained or hesitant. It felt... honest.

"You really are a kind young man," she said softly, her eyes glimmering with warmth.

But just as we were settling into the quiet of that moment, the door suddenly burst open with a loud thud, the sharp echo bouncing across the room like a warning bell.

We turned in unison—only to see Selene standing at the entrance.

Her face was pale. Her arms limp at her sides. A paper bag, likely filled with vegetables from the market, slipped from her grasp and hit the floor with a muffled thump. The contents scattered across the floor—leafy greens, carrots, a couple of radishes—rolling in random directions.

But no one cared about the vegetables.

Because in that moment, none of it mattered.

Not when something infinitely more precious was right in front of her.

"M-Mom...?" Selene’s voice cracked, barely more than a whisper.

We hadn’t told her anything. She had no idea her mother was awake. Well, not yet anyway. So now, the shock was hitting her all at once.

"Selene," her mother said, voice soft as velvet, her arms slowly opening wide, beckoning her in.

I instinctively took a step back, creating space for them—this moment was theirs, and theirs alone.

"Mom!"

The next second, Selene rushed forward—her steps loud and urgent on the floor—and threw herself into her mother’s arms. The sheer force of her hug caused her mother to stagger slightly, but she didn’t fall. She caught Selene like she had never let her go.

"Mom... Mom... Mo..." Selene whimpered, her voice breaking as her arms clung tighter and tighter. "Mo... Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh... ughhh... ahhhh..."

Tears finally spilled from her eyes, and she began sobbing—loud, unrestrained, like a dam that had finally burst.

Her mother simply held her. One arm wrapped around her waist, the other gently stroking the back of her head.

"You’ve really grown so much..." she whispered into her daughter’s ear. "I regret not being able to watch you grow, but I’m so thankful... that I finally get to see you again."

"I missed you...! I missed you so much!" Selene cried, burying her face deeper into her mother’s shoulder.

"That’s right. Just let it out like that... all of it."

And now I understood.

Now I understood why these two sisters would go so far—endure so much—for the sake of this woman.

Their mother wasn’t just kind. She was filled to the brim with love—giving everything she had to the people she loved. She was the kind of person who would tear herself apart for her family, no matter how painful, no matter how humiliating it got.

She was someone worth fighting for.

And honestly... being here felt like I was intruding on something sacred. But even so, witnessing it was like watching the first sunrise after a year of rain.

It was beautiful.

So, I quietly stepped out of the room, letting them have their moment in peace.

After all this time—after over a year of sorrow and waiting...

This family of three... was finally whole again.

***

Zeruel’s POV

I was happy.

No, I was beyond happy.

For the first time in what felt like forever, my heart felt whole again.

My mother... she was back. Truly back in our lives.

I had prayed, begged, cried for this day—and now, it had finally come true.

She was here.

Alive. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Smiling.

Speaking.

Holding Selene.

None of this—none of it—would’ve happened without Leon.

He was the one who stood by us.

Who gave everything.

Who made the impossible... possible.

No amount of money or gratitude could ever be enough to repay what he had done for us.

So I made a choice.

A decision that was final—unchanging.

I would give myself to him.

All of me—my heart, my soul, my life, my future.

Even if he didn’t need me.

Even if he was already strong and capable.

It didn’t matter.

Because I needed him.

And I would walk beside him, no matter what.

That... is my decision.

And it will never change.

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦