Chapter 2: Mystery woman

Moments later, I stepped out of the yellow taxi, the sharp slam of the door echoing against the towering hospital walls. The cold morning air wrapped around me instantly as I walked through the iron gates, my chest tightening with the same dreadful heaviness I had felt the very first day I brought Mom here.

But today, it wasn’t only the hospital weighing on my mind. Those pizza guy texts, they lingered in my head, twisting my stomach into uneasy knots every time I replayed them.

The antiseptic smell hit me the moment I entered the waiting room. My tired eyes searched around before landing on Peter Hale. He sat lazily in one of the chairs, his short brown wavy hair slightly messy, like he’d been running his fingers through it all morning. The moment his warm brown eyes met mine, they softened immediately. As soon as I reached him, I wrapped my arms tightly around him.

Peter hugged me back without hesitation, and his familiar warmth calmed the storm in my chest just a little. Together, we quietly made our way to the doctor’s office.

Behind the desk sat Doctor Raymond Cole, a middle-aged man with thin glasses. Peter and I settled into the chairs opposite him while he adjusted the files in front of him.

“So Ava, I’m going to go straight to the point because your mom badly needs the surgery. Her health is deteriorating fast. Dialysis can no longer help her that much, she needs a transplant. To find a matching donor and perform the surgery will cost about ten million, and at least five million must be deposited before the hospital can take any action.”

The words hit me like ice water. “Doctor… how much time do I have?” I asked softly, my voice trembling.

“Three months. If nothing is done within those three months, your mom may not make it.”

The room suddenly felt suffocating. I stared blankly at the floor as the weight of everything crashed onto my shoulders. Peter gently squeezed my trembling hands beneath the desk, silently trying to steady me.

“Doctor, we’ll bring the deposit before next month. Until then, please take good care of her,” Peter said calmly, though worry was written all over his face.

“We will continue to offer our best,” Doctor Cole replied while arranging some files. “If you don’t mind, I have another patient to attend to.”

We quietly left and headed to Mom’s room. Mom looked noticeably weaker. Her face was thinner and paler, yet she still wore that same warm smile. Wrapped in a light blue hospital gown, she sat propped against the pillows, completely absorbed in the novel resting in her hands. The moment she saw us, her face lit up.

“Ava!”

She dropped the book onto the bedside table and opened her arms. I immediately hugged her before sitting beside her on the bed while Peter placed the foodstuff we’d brought into the cupboard nearby.

“Mom! The doctor says you need rest. Why are you reading when you should be sleeping?” I scolded softly.

She chuckled.“These novels from GoodNovel keep me sane from everything going on. And the stories on that site are really interesting. From page one, you wouldn’t even realize when you’ve reached page one hundred.”

I shook my head helplessly. “How do you even get the books delivered?”

“I subscribed to their membership. Every month, they send a delivery guy to bring one novel from my library.”

“So what are you reading?”

“Someone recommended this novel to me, ‘Bound to the Mafia’. And I kid you not, from page one, I’ve been hooked. I think you should read it too… you remind me of one of the characters.”

“Mom! You know I don’t have time to read novels.”

She sighed softly and held my hand. “Oh please, Ava. You’re still young. Don’t throw your life away for me. If I die today, I’d still be happy knowing I gave birth and spent my last beautiful days with you. That’s more than enough.”

Her eyes shifted toward Peter and a teasing smile spread across her lips.

“But what I really want is to see you and Peter get married before I die peacefully.”

My cheeks instantly burned.“Mom!! Peter and I have only been friends. Besides, I already have a boyfriend.”

“A boyfriend?” she raised a brow dramatically. “A boyfriend whose face I can barely remember. Every single time you visit me, I see Peter beside you, never him.”

She pointed at me. “Stop chasing stars when the moon is standing right in front of you.”

I covered my face in embarrassment and turned to Peter. “Peter, I’m so sorry. Don’t mind my mom.”

Peter laughed softly. “Mom, you’re absolutely right. I keep telling her that her boyfriend definitely has skeletons hidden in his cupboard. But trust me, I won’t let her make a terrible mistake while I’m right here.”

The room instantly filled with laughter.

“I trust you, Peter,” Mom said proudly before lowering her voice mischievously.

“I have a secret for you. Something you need to know if you want to win her heart. Come closer.”

Peter leaned closer curiously. Mom whispered something into his ear, causing his eyes to widen dramatically before both of them burst into laughter and high-fived each other.

I stared at them suspiciously. “Really? Mom, you’ll actually sell me out like that?”

“What?” she shrugged innocently. “Since you’re blind, let me be your eyes.”

She winked at Peter, and Peter instantly winked back. The two of them burst into laughter again while I groaned in embarrassment, completely outnumbered.

Still smiling, I reached for my phone to check the time. But i froze. A new message from the same unknown number. My heartbeat skipped, slowly, I opened it. Attached to the message was a picture of Winston entering an expensive hotel with a woman. Her arm was wrapped possessively around his while he held the door open for her. I still couldn’t see her face, my hands began to tremble. Then another text appeared beneath the picture.

‘Don’t be late, if you want to know the truth’