Chapter 14 Reach an agreement

RILEY

Any concerns that I had about Dominic’s transfer disappeared after my conversation with Dr. Raphael.

He’d invited me to tour the private medical center and discuss Dominic’s treatment, and while I’d been a little apprehensive at first, it wasn’t nearly as intimidating or suspicious as I’d imagined.

It was a state-of-the-art facility with what had to be millions in funding, judging by the structure alone.

Tucked away in the same valley as Killian’s office building, it was remote and quiet, which seemed ideal for Domi’s treatment. Getting him away from the noisy city and into a more private place could be calming for him.

Although I couldn’t understand most of the medical terms he went through, I could see that Dr. Raphael was not only professional but also deeply considerate.

“I know this is a stressful situation, Ms. Clarkson, but I want you to know that I’ll do everything in my power to make sure Dominic receives the best care possible,” he assured me, his blue eyes kind and sincere.

 That reassurance alone was enough to convince me. He was so earnest that I couldn’t find a reason not to move forward, and I agreed to the transfer.

While the transfer had technically been arranged under Killian’s name, I had my own conditions to ensure I still had some control over the situation.

Killian agreed to sit down with me and hash out the terms of the agreement. To keep it less personal, we met in a private room in Bayview General while Domi slept.

“Dr. Raphael informed me that you reached a decision?” he asked the moment the door closed behind us.

He crossed his arms, and there was a hint of wariness in his emerald eyes.

“I tried to get a clear answer from him, but he said it was something I’d have to discuss with you directly.”

I nodded. “Yes. We had a productive conversation. He explained the facility, what it could offer, and how he planned to approach Dominic’s treatment. Some of it was beyond my understanding, but I agree that the transfer is the best option for Dominic right now.”

Killian’s mouth quirked just a bit, almost the ghost of a soft smile.

“Good. You’ve finally seen the light.”

I should have been annoyed by the mockery in his tone, but the rare glimpse of amusement on his usually cold face caught me off guard. For a moment, I was too surprised to come up with a response.

“Raphael is a renowned expert,” he continued “He’s the best person for Dominic’s case.”

“Which is exactly why I’m okay with the transfer,” I said, making sure he understood my position. “But I can’t simply trust your word. If we’re going through with this, I have some conditions.”

Killian frowned slightly but nodded. “Go on.”

“First,” I said. “I will remain Dominic’s sole guardian. This may be happening under your name, but legally, he’s still my son. Nothing changes that.”

“I’m not interested in taking advantage of someone’s misfortune,” he said. “Especially not my son’s. You’re his mother. I wouldn’t take that away from you.”

I wasn’t entirely convinced, but he was being surprisingly cooperative, so I decided not to push further.

“Second,” I continued. “Any other arrangements need to be discussed with me first. Going behind my back like you did with Dr. Ward isn’t an option.”

His emerald eyes fixed on mine for a moment.

“Fine,” he replied, though there was a trace of annoyance in his voice. “Anything else?”

I took a slow breath.

“Just one last thing.”

I tried to keep my voice steady despite the way my heart began to race.

“Dominic will not be told that you’re his father until after he’s fully recovered. That is non-negotiable. I won’t say anything, and neither will you or your… associates.”

I paused before continuing. “In exchange, you’re free to visit him as often as you’d like. He’s already going through enough. I don’t want to overwhelm him or make his situation more confusing.”

I knew the request was bold, but I couldn’t back down. I would tell Domi the truth eventually. Just not yet.

I half expected Killian to fight me on it, but after giving me a look I couldn’t read, he simply nodded.

“Alright,” he said. “Consider it done. I’ll have an agreement drawn up.”

And that was that.

***

“Wait, so what’s the address of this place again?” Hannah asked skeptically.

On the day of the transfer, I called my best friend during to give her an update. Originally, she had wanted to come with Domi and me to the medical center to help us settle in, but she couldn’t find the time. She’d been absolutely slammed at work, which was no big deal at all. I had things under control for the most part, so when she promised to visit us over the weekend, that was more than enough for me.

“I’ll text it to you,” I offered. “But don’t be surprised if it’s a little difficult to find. The valley is pretty tucked away, and navigation isn’t super reliable the closer you get to the mountain.”

Hannah sighed. “I still don’t understand what a medical center is doing in the middle of nowhere like that. I know you said that people live all the way out there, but….”

“Trust me, I still think it’s weird too. I replied, understanding her suspicion. “But there’s a whole gated community out there.”

“Gated community makes it sound a little more quaint than it probably is,” Hannah snorted. “It sounds like one of those high-end residential areas that stuck-up rich people love.”

“It really is,” I agreed with a short laugh. “Just wait until you see the mansions, Hannah. They’re unreal. It’s like something out of a  real estate magazine.”

“Unsurprising,” she commented. “Killian is loaded. Any place he invested in has to be swanky.”

“Pretty much,” I said with a small sigh. “The wildlife is gorgeous, and there’s something nice about how private it is. I just wish that the rest of the vibes weren’t so…”

“So what?” Hannah asked curiously.

I debated how to answer her question.

I didn’t know if I was being too sensitive, but everyone I’d met there while visiting Dr. Raphael had looked at me with a strange sort of curiosity that I couldn’t explain. There hadn’t been many outright questions about me or Domi, but there was an odd atmosphere, almost as if I wasn’t supposed to be there.

Of course, it might have just been in my head. Being surrounded by so much wealth wasn’t something I was used to, and while I’d accepted Killian’s help with private medical care, the amount of money he could casually spend was still jarring. The people in the valley also seemed incredibly wealthy, judging by their homes.

Would they see me as a charity case?

“Nothing,” I replied. “I’m just overthinking as usual.”

“Well, regardless, I’ll see you this weekend,” Hannah reiterated. “Try not to stab Killian before then, yeah?”

“No guarantees,” I giggled.

Suddenly, there was a knock, and a man appeared in the doorway.

“Ms. Clarkson?” he asked politely. “It’s time to get going.”