In the quiet suburb of Elmwood Heights, Dr. Elena Vargas was a renowned biochemist, a single mother in her mid-40s with a sharp mind and an even sharper wit. Her son, Alex, had just turned 25 and was back home after graduating college, crashing on the couch while job-hunting. They had a close bond, built on years of late-night talks and shared dreams. But everything changed one fateful evening in her home lab.
