Chapter 21 Who Paid the Bill
When Olive reached the third floor, she went straight for the women’s comfort room.
She was almost running.
Her heart was still thumping too fast, her lips still tingling, and the last thing she wanted was to see Leo again—not after what she did, not after what she felt.
She pushed the door open and rushed inside.
The women already there startled at her sudden entrance. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Every head turned. Every pair of eyes landed on her.
Olive felt it immediately.
She forced herself to slow down.
She straightened her back, fixed her gaze on the floor, and walked like nothing was wrong. Like she hadn’t just kissed a man she told herself was dangerous. Like her chest wasn’t still tight.
She slipped into the nearest cubicle and locked the door.
Only then did she breathe.
A shaky, uneven breath.
She leaned her forehead against the cold cubicle wall and lifted her fingers to her lips.
Why did I do that…?
Her stomach twisted.
She let out a quiet groan and tapped her forehead with her palm. “You’re such an idiot,” she whispered to herself.
She stood there, unmoving.
Minutes passed.
She stayed longer than she should have, frozen by the thought of stepping back into the hallway. Afraid Leo might be there somehow—waiting, watching, asking questions she couldn’t answer.
Her thoughts spiraled.
The way he held her. The way he didn’t push. The way he looked surprised… but not angry.
Then a voice outside snapped her back.
“Is someone inside this cubicle?”
Another woman answered, annoyed. “I don’t know. A woman came in earlier but hasn’t come out yet.”
An older voice followed, irritated. “I really need to pee. Is she loitering in there or what?”
Olive’s stomach dropped.
A knock came.
Light at first.
Then louder.
“Excuse me?” the woman said, impatience clear now. “If you’re done, please come out. There are others waiting.”
Heat rushed to Olive’s face, all the way up to her ears.
She wanted the floor to open and swallow her whole.
She couldn’t stay anymore.
Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door and stepped out slowly.
Every eye turned back to her.
Some frowned. Some whispered. A few muttered under their breath about people taking too long.
“I’m sorry,” Olive said quietly, keeping her head down as she hurried past them and out of the comfort room.
Once outside, she stopped and scanned the hallway.
Half-expecting him to be there.
He wasn’t.
Relief washed over her so hard it almost made her dizzy.
She didn’t wait. She turned and walked quickly toward her mother’s room.
When she opened the door, only Chris was inside, seated beside Celeste’s bed. The sight of just the two of them made her shoulders loosen.
Safe.
But both of them looked up immediately—then glanced toward the door behind her.
As if expecting someone else to follow.
Celeste spoke first, her voice gentle. “Where’s Leo?”
Olive moved toward the IV stand, busying herself, avoiding their eyes. “He… he went home.”
Even as she said it, the memory of the kiss flashed in her mind, vivid and unwanted. Heat crept up her neck.
Chris squinted at her. “Why is your face red?”
Olive froze.
She lifted a hand to her cheeks.
They were burning.
Chris’s lips curved into a grin. “Do you have a fever… or something else? What happened to you and Leo? Where is he?” His questions are full of curiosity.
“Chris,” Olive warned, keeping her eyes on the IV. “I already said he went home.”
Celeste watched her quietly for a moment. Then she spoke, her tone gentle—but serious.
“Why are you treating him that way?” she asked. “He seems like a good man. And he looks serious about you.”
Olive finally looked at her mother.
Because you don’t know who he really is, she thought.
Because you don’t know the danger that follows him. The secrets. The world he lives in.
Out loud, she only said, “You can’t trust him fully. You barely know him.”
The words sounded reasonable.
Safe.
But the moment they left her mouth, they felt hollow.
Why didn’t I tell myself that sooner? Why did I let him get close? Why did I let him matter?
She turned back to the monitor, pretending to focus.
But inside, the truth pressed heavily against her chest.
Her feelings were already growing.
Quietly. Dangerously.
And that scared her more than anything else she had faced so far.
A moment later, the door opened again.
A doctor and a nurse stepped inside.
Dr. Mateo’s eyes immediately found Olive. His brows lifted slightly. “Isn’t it your day off today?” he asked.
“Yes, Doctor,” Olive answered politely, straightening her posture out of habit.
He nodded, then turned his attention to Celeste. He stepped closer to the bed, his tone calm and professional. “How are you feeling now? Any discomfort in your chest when you breathe?”
Celeste took a slow, careful breath, as if testing her body. After a moment, she shook her head and smiled brightly. “I feel wonderful, Doctor. Really.”
Dr. Mateo let out a small chuckle. “Of course you do. I made sure you’d be fine.”
Celeste’s smile softened, gratitude filling her eyes. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “Thank you for saving my life.”
Dr. Mateo nodded, clearly used to hearing those words—but still accepting them with quiet pride.
Then Celeste’s smile faltered.
A shadow of worry crossed her face.
“Doctor,” she asked hesitantly, her voice lowering, “about my surgery bill… how much do we need to pay?”
Olive stiffened instantly.
Her heart dropped.
She opened her mouth, ready to cut in—to redirect the question, to say I’ll handle it—
But the nurse spoke first.
She glanced at Olive, confusion flashing across her face for just a second, then turned back to Celeste.
“Oh,” the nurse said, clearly surprised. “Your surgery bill was already fully paid.”
The room went still.
Celeste blinked. “…Paid?” she repeated slowly.
Silence stretched.
The machines continued their soft beeping. Outside the window, the hospital moved on like nothing had happened.
Celeste’s eyes shifted—slowly, carefully—until they landed on Olive.
Olive felt the weight of that look immediately.
Her shoulders tensed. Her throat tightened.
She couldn’t hide it.
The unease on her face was clear now—written in the way her fingers curled, in the way she avoided her mother’s gaze.
Celeste frowned slightly. “Olive?” she called softly. “What does that mean?”
Chris looked between them, confused. “Olive… did you pay for it?”
Olive swallowed.
Her heart thumped so loudly she was sure they could hear it.
“No,” she said quietly. “I didn’t.”
Dr. Mateo glanced between mother and daughter, sensing the shift in the room.
Celeste’s confusion deepened. “Then who…? Who paid the bill?” she asked.
Her voice trailed off.