Chapter 136

[Hey Loves, hope that you are all well. I wanted to apologize for uploading the same chapter twice. There was an error with website while I was uploading and it ended up uploading twice... I'm really sorry about that. I know you've spent your coins just to read the same chapter, so here is a free one to make up for that. Take care and stay safe.]

SIERRA

The moment I see them; I can’t hold it together.

“Mom,” I whisper, my throat raw.

I thought I’d never see her again. I thought I wouldn’t get the chance to see any of them again. I remembered their faces flashing in my head as I fought to push that woman off me. In that moment I regretted not being able to protect my baby and saying goodbye to them one last time

Unable to help it, I hold out my good hand towards her. She crosses the room in seconds, her arms wrapping around me like she’s afraid I’ll disappear again. Lilly’s right behind her, holding on to both of us as we cry. It’s messy and desperate, but my heart feels full.

Mom’s shaking, her sobs muffled against my shoulder. “When I got that call and they told me what happened I-I…”

She doesn’t finish her words, as if saying them out loud would make them real. Instead, sobs tear through her in waves, and I cry with her because hearing my mother break like this shatters me in pieces.

“It’s okay, Mom,” I whisper, though my own voice cracks. “I’m here. I’m okay… we’re okay.”

She pulls back, her hands cupping my face with trembling fingers. Her eyes are red and swollen, lashes clumped with tears.

“You scared me,” she breathes, her voice shaking. “I thought I’d lost you again and I couldn’t bear it, Sierra. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had.”

For a moment, I just look at her. The exhaustion carved into her features, the paleness of her skin, the shadows under her eyes… it’s like she’s aged ten years in the span of a few days.

“I’m right here,” I manage to say, my throat tightening.

She pulls me back into her arms, clutching me as if she’s afraid I might vanish if she lets go. I sink into the embrace, letting the warmth and familiarity of it ground me.

Beside us, Lilly’s crying too, her shoulders shaking as she wipes at her face with her sleeve.

“I’m so fucking glad to have you back,” she says between choked laughter and tears. “If you’d dared to leave, I swear I’d have stormed heaven myself and dragged you back.”

I can’t help but laugh, and neither can Mom. Knowing Lilly, she’s definitely capable of pulling off something that impossible. Once she sets her mind to something, it doesn’t matter how many obstacles are in her way, she’ll make sure it gets done.

“Language, Lilly,” Aunt Harper snaps.

“Seriously, Mom?” Lilly shoots back, raising a brow. “I’m not a kid anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Aunt Harper says, folding her arms across her chest. “When did you even learn to curse? I’ve heard you speak, and you’ve got quite the dirty mouth, young lady.”

“Probably from you and Dad,” Lilly retorts. “Have you ever listened to yourselves when you two fight? Oh, and let’s not forget, between you, Aunt Ivy, Ava, Emma, Letty, and Corrine, a sailor would need to bleach his ears after hearing you five curse.”

“Why am I being grouped with them?” Mom complains. “I’m not that bad.”

I shake my head, smiling. “Yes, you are, Mom... You’re just as bad.”

Mom and Aunt Harper both click their tongues, but they can’t hide their smiles. And I may be seeing things but if I’m not mistaken, those are proud smiles right there.

“Anyway,” Mom says, trying to compose herself, “what did the doctor say?”

“They’ll keep her for observation,” Aunt Harper replies softly, “but so far, she’s doing really well.”

Mom’s lip trembles, but the relief flooding her face is unmistakable. “Thank Heaven,” she whispers. “I was so worried.”

Aunt Harper nods gently. “She’s showing good progress, Ivy. She’ll be back to normal in no time. We’ll all make sure she is.”

“Aunt Harper’s right, Mom… I’ll be okay.”

Tears well up in her eyes again, and she whispers, “Now my heart can finally rest easy.”

She doesn’t have to tell me, but I can see it. The last few days have taken everything out of her. Out of all of them. It’s written in their faces… the fatigue, the messy hair, the wrinkled clothes, the dark circles under their eyes. They all look like they haven’t slept in days, and seeing them this worn out, this worried because of me, makes my chest ache.

When Mom finally pulls back, she wipes her face with a trembling hand and studies me closely.

“Why didn’t you tell us someone was after you?” Her voice isn’t angry, just broken.

I swallow hard, my chest tightening. “I didn’t know,” I whisper.

Lilly frowns, confusion furrowing her brow. “What do you mean you didn’t know?”

“They told me they suspected someone tampered with the machine that almost crushed me,” I say, voice low. “But there wasn’t any solid proof. And even then, they weren’t sure if I was the target or someone else.”

I pause, drawing a shaky breath. “That day they came to see me… that’s when they told me they believed I was in danger. They’d found out the accident wasn’t an accident at all. Someone tampered with my brakes. I didn’t even have time to process it. I was still trying to make sense of it all when that nurse came.”

Mom’s hand flies to her mouth, eyes wide with horror. I can tell she’d been told parts of it but not everything.

“Oh my God.” Her voice cracks. “I don’t understand who could want to hurt you. You’ve never hurt anyone. Why would anyone target you? It just doesn’t make any sense.”

“From what I know,” Aunt Harper says quietly, her voice edged with bitterness, “there are only two reasons someone goes after another person… jealousy or obsession.”

Mom turns to me again, desperation etched across her face. “Do the police have any idea who it might be? I never got the chance to meet them, though I was told they came while you were in a coma”

“As far as I know, no,” I whisper. “They didn’t have any suspects.”

But I do, though they don’t need to know that just yet.

I know I said a lot of things that day, but only because I was scared and angry. I can rule out Noah. He’s a lot of things, but a cold-blooded murderer isn’t one of them… But Brooke and Jocelyn? Yeah, those two are still on my list.

The silence that follows is heavy, thick with unspoken thoughts and worry, until a soft knock cuts through it.

The door opens, and Officer Calton steps in first, followed by Mark. Both men pause, visibly surprised to find the room this full.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Calton says gently. “The doctor told us you were awake.”

Lilly quickly wipes her face and stands. “It’s okay. I would’ve called, but I got a little distracted.”

“No worries, Miss Wood,” Mark says, offering her a small, reassuring smile.

They step closer to the bed, their movements cautious but professional.

“Miss Meyers,” Calton says, meeting my eyes. “It’s good to see you awake. We were just at the hospital following up on your case when we got the news. Since we were nearby, we thought we’d check in.”

I nod faintly. “You wanted to ask me questions?”

“Only if you’re up for it,” Mark replies. “We can come back later if you need rest.”

“No,” I say quickly. “I can answer now.”

I hesitate, my fingers curling around the blanket. “Did you catch her?”

Calton and Mark exchange a look, one that makes my pulse quicken. Then Calton sighs. “No. We don’t believe she was a real nurse, but we’re still trying to identify her.”

My stomach drops. “So she just got away?”

“I’m afraid so,” Mark says grimly. “We’ve got surveillance footage, but in every frame, she keeps her mask on. We don’t have a clear shot of her face.”

Mom shakes her head in disbelief. “How is that even possible?”

Calton’s jaw tightens. “She’s clever. She knew exactly what she was doing and that’s why we can’t find anything on her.”

A chill runs through me as I remember those cold, empty eyes. It's like she was dead inside. Like she was just a robot following commands.

Mark flips open his notebook. “Do you remember anything specific about her? Any detail that stood out?”

“Her eyes,” I whisper after a pause. “That’s all I saw. But I can’t even tell if they were brown or black.”

“Anything else? Scars, tattoos, a birthmark maybe?”

I shake my head. “She was completely covered. And she moved fast... I didn’t really get a chance to see.”

“Did she speak to you?” Calton asks.

“Just a few words,” I say quietly. “She didn’t talk much.”

“Can you remember her voice? Deep? Hoarse? Sweet?”

I swallow, searching for the memory. “Flat,” I finally say. “Her tone was flat, almost mechanical.”

“Did she seem familiar to you at all?” Mark presses. “Like someone you’ve seen before?”

I think about it, really think, but all I can recall is that eerie calm. I shake my head. “No. I’ve never seen her before.”

They both nod and jot down notes, pens scratching against paper.

“Do you remember anything before she approached?” Mark continues. “Anyone nearby, any sound, smell, anything that felt off?”

I close my eyes, trying to rewind those last few moments. “No, but…” I hesitate. “I remember her scent.”

Mark looks up. “Her scent?”

"Yes... when I tried to fight her, she got on top of me and pinned me down." I murmur, my voice trembling slightly. “She smelled sweet and floral. I think it was Yara by Lattafa. The pink one.”

Calton’s brows lift from his notes. “That’s a perfume?”

“Yes.”

He and Mark exchange a look. “How do you know that specific perfume?” Calton asks.

Before I can answer, Lilly speaks up. “She knows her perfumes really well,” she says, crossing her arms with a faint smile. “Trust me, if Sierra says it’s Yara, it’s Yara.”

Aunt Harper and Mom both nod.

Can’t say they’re lying. While Lilly’s always been crazy about cars, mine has always been perfume. I’ve got an entire collection at home, and between Mom and Lilly 'borrowing', it’s a miracle I ever have a full bottle left.

The officers exchange a glance before jotting it down.

“It’s going to be tough to trace her,” Calton admits, “since thousands of people probably wear the same perfume, but it’s better than nothing.”

They keep going, asking about timing, about the nurse’s build, her voice, her movements. My head starts to ache from the effort of remembering, but I answer everything I can.

Finally, Mark closes his notebook and gives me a small nod. “Thank you, Miss Meyers. We’ll be in touch if we need anything further.”

For the first time officer Calton’s tone softens. “We’re going to find her. You have our word.”

I nod faintly, though part of me wonders if that’s even possible.

When they leave, the room feels heavier somehow. Mom slips her hand into mine again, her thumb tracing slow, comforting circles against my skin.

“You’re safe now,” she whispers, her voice trembling slightly. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

I want to believe her. I really do, but deep down, something tells me this isn’t the end... It’s only the beginning.