Chapter 48

Azalea

“I want to meet her,” I said quietly.

“You want to meet her?” Cassian asked, sounding surprised.

“Yes. Your family is also my family.”

“I understand. I will plan a day for you girls to meet.”

“I’m looking forward to it. How is your mom? Is she okay?”

“Yes,” he replied, but he sounded very tired. “I told you it’s just a small problem. She is fine.”

“I need to visit her. When are you coming to pick me up?”

“I’m so sorry, honey. My boss called me to the office,” he said. “I’m at the office doing my job.”

“What! You didn’t tell him your mom is sick?”

“I did,” he responded. “But he said I still had to come to work.”

“He sounds like a mean person,” I complained. “Tell me where the hospital is. I will go visit her myself.”

“By now, I think she’s not at the hospital anymore. Emily probably took her home.”

“Okay. I will go see her at home then.”

“Alright. I will meet you there later. Take care, honey. I love you.”

I quickly got dressed and left my house. I stopped a taxi and got in, heading to Cassian’s mother’s place.

“We’re here, miss,” the driver said. I paid him and got out. As I walked to the house, I stopped at a fruit stand and bought different kinds of fruit to bring to her.

“Sister Azalea, you’re here!” Emily’s happy voice called out. She was such a cheerful girl, always full of energy. I wished my own sister could be healthy and happy like her.

She hugged me and took the basket of fruit from my hands.

“How is Mom?” I asked.

“She’s getting better,” Emily said as we walked into the house together.

“Mom,” I called out as soon as I walked in. She was lying on the bed, but her face lit up when she saw me.

“Azalea,” she said my name softly. “You came.”

“Yes, Mother,” I muttered, sitting down beside her bed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come last night.”

She took my hand and rubbed it gently. “You’re here now, and that makes me happy.” Her voice was soft and kind.

“How do you feel? Are you getting better?”

“Yes,” she replied. “Thanks to Cassian for taking such good care of me.”

“You need to rest well, Mother.” I helped her sit up against her pillows. “Let me peel some oranges for you.”

I took out some oranges, peeled them carefully, and gave them to her.

“Thank you,” she stated as she took them. “And I’m sorry about what my niece did. She even called Cassian by her boyfriend’s name just to test you and make you jealous.”

“Cassian already explained everything to me, Mom. I’m not angry.”

“You’re such a good girl, Azalea. My son is so lucky to have found someone like you.”

I felt my cheeks get warm as she continued. “I can’t wait for you two to get married and give me a healthy grandson.”

I couldn’t speak - I was too embarrassed. I had thought about being Cassian’s wife and having his children many times, but hearing it from his mother made me feel shy.

“I will do my best to give you a healthy grandson, Mom,” I finally managed to say.

We talked for a long time, and I helped Emily with cleaning the house and cooking dinner. We were still in the kitchen when Cassian came home.

“Brother!” Emily shouted happily when she saw him walk in. “Welcome home!”

I watched as he gently patted her head. When it came to his family, he was such a caring person. I knew someone like him would make a good husband and father.

“You’re back,” his mother said from her bed. “Welcome home, son.” She smiled brightly as Cassian sat down beside her.

“How do you feel, Mother?” he asked.

“Much better. Having Azalea here has helped a lot.”

His eyes met mine across the room. I couldn’t look away from him. Even though he didn’t have much money, he had grown into a very handsome man. His skin was smooth and perfect.

He stood up and walked over to me. I gasped when he put his arms around my waist and kissed me.

“Stop,” I said, pulling away. “Your family is watching.”

“Just pretend it’s only you and me,” he whispered.

“I can’t.” I stepped back from him. “Control yourself.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said quietly. “I missed you so much. And thank you for taking such good care of my mother.”

“She’s my mother too now,” I replied, putting food on the plates. “Come help me serve dinner.”

Cassian helped me give everyone their food, and we all sat down to eat together. The dinner was warm and happy - it felt like being part of a real family. After we finished eating, Cassian and I got ready to leave.

On the drive back to my house, we talked excitedly about our future together - where we might live, what our wedding would be like, and the children we hoped to have someday.

“I wish I could stay with you tonight, honey, but I can’t,” Cassian said when we reached my house. “I have to go on a business trip with my boss.”

“And you’re just telling me this now?”

“I’m so sorry, honey. He just told me about the trip today.”

“Okay,” I said, trying not to sound too disappointed.

“I will make it up to you when I get back,” he said, leaning closer to me. He touched my hair gently and kissed me.

I felt myself melt into his kiss, wishing it could last forever. “I need to go now and pack my bags.”

“Okay. Come back soon.” I watched as Cassian drove away. I was about to go into my house when my phone rang. It was Chiara.

“Chiara, how have you been?” I said happily into the phone.

“My dear Azalea,” she murmured. “I’m having a terrible day.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Some woman is trying to steal what belongs to me.”

“What! Who is this woman?” Even though I had never met Chiara in person ever since that party, she called me often.

She always talked about her fiancé and how much she loved him. I was the one who told her to fight for her man when she said she wasn’t sure if he really loved her.

“Who is she, Chiara?”

“I don’t know who she is yet,” she answered. “But I’m looking for her. I hope I don’t find her, because if I do, I will make her life terrible. Trust me on that.”

“I believe you, honey. Where are you now?”

“At home. I’m tired. But I had a good time with my man today.”

Ever since she started telling me about this mystery fiancé, she had never told me his real name, and I didn’t bother to ask because I wasn’t curious about it.

“Tell me more.”

“No,” Chiara said. “I need to see you in person, then I will tell you everything.”

She was having a bad day. I didn’t want to say no and make her feel worse.

“Okay. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

“Really?” I could hear how happy she was. “You’re finally ready to meet me?”

“Yes. I will call you after work.”

“Finally! I will be waiting for your call, love.”

I felt relieved when I hung up the phone. I hoped Adriano wouldn’t find me through Chiara. I really hoped I wouldn’t regret this decision to meet her.

As I walked into my house, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was about to change in my life.

Between Cassian going away on his trip and finally agreeing to meet Chiara, I felt nervous about what tomorrow might bring.