The Second Chance Doesn't Exist

I'm Ilenia Toms, a 22-year-old recent graduate from the most prestigious university in Fill. I studied business administration to help my father, as I'm the only child of the prestigious Toms family, one of the wealthiest in the country, but today everything changed. In my room, while I was checking my social media, I received a call that changed my entire life. The phone rings *riiiiing*, "Hello!" an unfamiliar voice says. "Toms family residence?" "Yes, this is Ilenia Toms. How can I help you?" "Miss Toms, we are calling from Angel Hospital. Your parents had an accident, and we need you to come immediately." I was left in a daze, unsure of what to say until the voice spoke again, "Miss, can you hear me?" I quickly responded, ran to get dressed, grabbing the car keys, and headed to the hospital. I ran in and asked about my parents, but they gave me the news that they had passed away. I was in shock, not knowing what to do. I screamed desperately, overcome with inconsolable tears, and let myself fall to the floor of the waiting room. I didn't know what to do at that moment, so I just took my phone and called the only person who could help me. "Javier, could you come to Angel Hospital? I need you." I said in a choked sob. Javier didn't ask any questions and immediately told me he was on his way. Javier is the best lawyer in the country and one of my best friends. I met him by chance in high school on a rainy day like today, and he has always been by my side through thick and thin, so it didn't occur to me to call anyone else. Half an hour after the call, Javier arrived, saw me sitting on the floor hugging my knees, and immediately ran to lift me up and hug me. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" I hugged him and started crying desperately. I managed to calm down and told him "Javi, my parents... they died," and I started crying again. He was stunned and calmed me down. "Don't worry sweetheart, I will take care of everything." He went to find someone to tell him what happened. He returned after almost two hours and told me, "Sweetheart, everything is ready. They will release your parents to us shortly. The car lost control due to the rain and crashed into a retaining wall. They arrived with barely any vital signs but didn't last long." He hugged me and said, "Don't worry, I'm here with you." We called Lilian, my friend, almost like a sister, and I stayed at her apartment while Javier finished all the paperwork. Everything happened too fast. Five days passed since my parents' death, and I was still staying with Lilian. I got up and thought it was time to go back home, took a shower, and put on the first thing I found, some tight jeans, sneakers, and a black sweatshirt. I've always liked dressing well and fashionably, but right now, I couldn't care less about how I look. I'm alone in the world; I only have my friends, but not a family. As I'm heading home, I stop at a traffic light, lost in my thoughts, but I see a commotion in a shop on the side. I see a saleswoman intimidating an elderly man, so I get out of the car and run to help. "Hey, what's wrong with you? He's an elderly man, why are you treating him like that?" I hold the man and protect him. "Who are you? Do you know him? Then pay for him," the woman said, shouting angrily. "He came to have breakfast here and when it was time to pay, he said he forgot his money. That's an old trick, and he's lying on top of it, telling me his grandson will pay me. What, is he the CEO of Mayer Corporation?" I narrow my eyes, wondering what's going on, and without hesitation, I take out my purse and pay her. "There, that's fine. Stop intimidating the elderly; have some respect and decency." I walk away with the man by the arm and sit him on a bench. I ask him politely, "Are you okay, sir?" He turns to me with a sweet gaze, reminding me of my only grandfather who passed away a few years ago. He smiles and nods, "Thank you, my dear. I truly forgot my money. I left the house in a hurry and forgot it. I couldn't contact my grandson to come for me, and that ruthless woman got upset. But don't worry, my grandson will pay you for helping me today." "It's not necessary, sir. You remind me of my grandfather, that's why I did it." I smile at him as he takes my hands and whispers, "I really am Samuel Mayer's grandfather, dear, give me your phone number, I want to thank you for what you've done today." "It's not necessary," I say with a warm smile. He insists, and I give it to him. I say goodbye and get into my car. When he refused to let me take him, he said someone would come to pick him up. I continue on my way and arrive home, where I realize it's enormous and feels empty without them, the people I loved most in the world. I start to cry, but before I can even think of my parents, Hilda, the housekeeper, approaches. "Miss Ilenia, it's good that you're back. These papers arrived yesterday, and you need to see them." I take the papers from her hand, and my eyes widen in surprise and anger. "What on earth is this?" I take out my phone and call Javier. "Javi, I need you to see something, I'm ruined," my eyes fill with tears as I read its contents. My dad's partner diverted all the money from Toms Corporation, and now there's nothing left. I sit on the sofa to wait for Javier.