LOGINThe rest of the afternoon passed surprisingly quietly.Pamela never came downstairs after storming off.I wasn’t complaining. For once, the mansion felt peaceful.After changing into more comfortable clothes, I spent most of my time with Max in the backyard. He chased tennis balls with endless enthusiasm, occasionally dropping one at my feet before barking impatiently for me to throw it again.“You have more energy than ten people combined,” I laughed, tossing the ball across the lawn.Max sprinted after it like his life depended on it.Watching him run made me smile. For the first time since Mom had been hospitalized, I felt like I could breathe again.When the sun began to set, I returned inside. The kitchen was already stocked with everything I needed for dinner.I tied my apron around my waist and pulled out vegetables from the refrigerator.As I chopped carrots, Mom’s words echoed inside my head.“Finish your two weeks… and come home peacefully.”I sighed softly. “I can do that.”
The next morning arrived much faster than I wanted.I had barely slept.Not because the couch in our apartment was uncomfortable, but because I kept waking up every hour to check on Mom. Each time, I’d tiptoe into her room only to find her sleeping peacefully.It eased my heart every single time.Still, I couldn’t shake the guilt of leaving again.I stood in the kitchen making oatmeal while Mom sat at the small dining table wrapped in one of her old cardigans.“You know,” she said with a teasing smile, “if you keep looking at me every five seconds, I’m going to start thinking I’ve grown another head.”I laughed softly. “I’m just making sure you’re okay.”“I’m perfectly fine.”“You fainted two days ago.”She sighed dramatically. “And you’ve reminded me of that at least twenty times.”“Twenty-three,” I corrected.Mom chuckled and shook her head.“My daughter has become my mother.”“Someone has to.”She smiled fondly. “I’ll be alright, Clare.”“I know.”“Then stop worrying.”“I’ll try.”
The next morning, the doctor finally signed my mother’s discharge papers.I couldn’t have been happier.After thanking the nurses who had cared for her, I helped Mom gather her few belongings while Hilda insisted on carrying the fruit basket the church members had brought.“You two treat me like I’m ninety,” Mom complained as we slowly walked toward the hospital entrance.“You almost scared me to death,” I replied without looking at her. “So yes, I’m going to treat you like you’re made of glass.”She sighed dramatically. “I’m perfectly capable of walking.”“I know.”“And carrying my own bag.” Mom continued.“I know.” I nodded.“And….”“No arguments, Mom.” I said immediately.Hilda laughed beside us. “I like this version of Clare.”Mom looked at her in disbelief. “You’ve joined her side too?”“I absolutely have.”Mom shook her head with a smile.“Traitor.”We all laughed.A taxi dropped us off outside our apartment building nearly thirty minutes later.As soon as I stepped out, I looked
By the time I reached my mother’s ward, I had managed to wipe the disappointment off my face.Or so I thought.The moment I stepped inside, Hilda looked up from the chair beside the bed.A mischievous grin immediately spread across her face.“Oh-ho!”I frowned. “What?”She pointed dramatically at me.“Look who’s back.”I rolled my eyes. “I literally left five minutes ago.”“No.” She narrowed her eyes playfully. “You came back glowing.”“I did not.”“You absolutely did.” She squealed.I walked past her and sat beside Mom’s bed.“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”Hilda burst into laughter. “Sure you don’t.”Mom looked between the two of us with amusement dancing in her eyes.“What did I miss?”Hilda clapped her hands together.“Everything!”I groaned. “Ignore her.”“Oh, I won’t.” She leaned forward eagerly. “So…”She dragged out the word dramatically. “What did the billionaire say?”I picked up a grape from the fruit tray just to avoid looking at her.“Nothing.”“Liar.” She said
Hilda insisted on getting dinner from a nearby restaurant.“I’ll be back in twenty minutes,” she said, grabbing her handbag.I smiled gratefully. “You’ve already done enough today.”She rolled her eyes dramatically.“Please. Someone has to make sure you two don’t survive on hospital biscuits.”Mom laughed. “I wouldn’t mind the biscuits.”“That’s because you’re impossible,” Hilda teased before pointing at me. “Don’t cry while I’m gone.”“I wasn’t planning to.”“Liar.” She said. I laughed, and moments later, she disappeared through the ward door.The room grew quiet again.Mom leaned back against her pillow.“You have a wonderful friend.”“I know.”“You’ve been blessed.” She smiled.“I really have.”For a while, we talked about ordinary things…….Things that had nothing to do with hospitals or money.She asked about Max and I told her how he’d become attached to me after only a few days.She laughed when I described how he’d followed me around the mansion like a bodyguard.“He already love
The journey to the hospital felt like the longest drive of my life.I sat in the backseat of the taxi, my leg bouncing uncontrollably as I stared out the window. Every red light felt like an insult. Every traffic jam made my heart pound harder against my chest.“Please hurry,” I whispered for what felt like the tenth time.The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “I’m trying, miss.”I immediately felt guilty. “I’m sorry.”He nodded understandingly before returning his attention to the road.I gripped my phone tightly. Hilda had texted me only a few minutes earlier.“YOUR MOM IS AWAKE. DONT PANIC WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU.”I reread the message countless times.She was awake. That single word kept me together.After what felt like forever, the taxi finally pulled into the hospital compound.Before it had even stopped completely, I pushed the door open.“Miss!” the driver called.I quickly paid him, muttered a hurried thank you, and practically ran toward the entrance.Hospi
My hands clenched into fists as I marched down the hallway.Jason had crossed a line.Insulting me was one thing and I could handle that. I had handled it since the moment he arrived.But Hilda?Hilda had done absolutely nothing to deserve that.The memory of her face after Jason called her a peasa
The dining room was so large that it could probably fit my entire apartment inside it.That thought crossed my mind as I arranged the last plate on the polished dining table.Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting golden rays across the expensive furniture. Everything looked perfect.T
The smell of pancakes filled the kitchen as I flipped the last one onto a plate.I stepped back and admired my work.For someone who rarely cooked anything beyond instant noodles, the breakfast spread looked surprisingly impressive.There were pancakes, eggs, toast, bacon, and fresh orange juice ar
My mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.For some reason, my brain had completely stopped working.The man standing before me was even more intimidating up close.His dark eyes remained fixed on me as though he was trying to figure out whether I belonged in the mansion or not.Judging by t







