Chapter 37 37

Chapter 37 37

Riley's POV

My heart was still beating fast as I ran towards the exit with Easton and Blake. The message on my phone was still making my hands shake badly. I quickly sent Amara a text.

“Come outside now. Something bad happened and I need you.” I hit the send option and held the phone tight on my chest. Easton looked at me with worry in his eyes while Blake stayed close, his face full of concern too.

Amara ran out a few minutes later. Her hair looked rough and messy like she had fought with someone inside the hall. She took quick breaths and looked at each of us with sharp eyes.

“What happened?” she asked quickly. She rushed to me first and started checking my arms and face for any wounds. “Did someone hit you? Tell me right now, Riley.”

I shook my head and grabbed her hand. “It is not me,” I replied, my voice sounding urgent. “It is Lila. I just got a message from the part-time caregiver that she is sick. We need to go to the hospital right now.”

Amara gave Easton and Blake a mean look. Her eyes were red and angry. “And you two I'm still coming back to your childish stunt,” she said sharply. “Always making my friend miserable with your silly games. But today is not the day because if anything happens to Lila, I will never forgive you both.”

Even though Easton didn't say anything, his shoulders looked heavy. Blake tried to speak but Amara raised her hand, cutting him off.

“Save it,” she said firmly. “Right now we need to go.” We all moved quickly toward the parking lot. Easton led the way, and Amara walked right next to me and held my hand the whole time. Blake followed behind us quietly.

Easton stopped near his car. He turned to Blake and gave him a mean look. “Why are you still following us? Back off,” he said firmly. “This is a family matter. Lila is my sister not yours.”

Blake looked like he wanted to argue but he didn't say anything. Instead he looked at me and said softly.“Call me when you get home, Riley,” I want to know that you are okay.”

I nodded but didn't reply before I entered the car with Easton and Amara.

The engine roared to life and the car started moving immediately I closed the door. This was the first time I would ride in Easton’s car. The seat was soft but strange and somehow comforting too because Easton was sitting right beside me. Amara sat at the back and kept asking questions.

“What exactly happened to Lila?” she asked.

I explained everything to her while Easton drove fast toward the hospital. I kept my hands on my phone the whole time.

Soon we arrived at the hospital. Without wasting time, we rushed inside, our hearts beating fast. Easton’s face looked pale with worry and Amara held my hand tightly even though she too was trying to stay calm.

We ran into the emergency ward together and asked the nurse on duty about a small girl brought in for an allergy.

The nurse politely answered us and after confirming our relationship with her, she pointed to where her bed was.

Without wasting time, we ran to where the nurse pointed to and saw Lila sleeping peacefully on the bed. Her small face looked calm now but I was still scared. I walked up to her and put my hand on her forehead to feel her temperature.

I let out a sigh of relief after realizing that her body temperature was normal. Easton also let out a deep breath, his eyes becoming less worried now.

Soon the doctor walked up to us with a serious face. “Hello, you must be Lila’s guardian,” he greeted. "We have given her all the proper treatment required. She had a bad allergy reaction but she is stable now. But she can’t go home tonight.”

He looked at us with disappointment. “You should have told the woman about her allergies. Children nowadays need to be watched closely. This could have been worse if she wasn't brought here on time.”

The caregiver woman who brought Lila to the hospital Lila apologized several times. “I am so sorry,” she said, her voice sounding sad. “I did not know about her allergies.”

Easton shook his head. “It is not your fault,” he said quietly. “We should have told you.”

I nodded and held Lila’s small hand gently. “Thank you for bringing her here,” I added softly.

After confirming that Lila was fine, Amara stood up and said. “I will have to take my leave now, thank God Lila is fine. Mum will soon start calling soon, I have promised her I won't take long.”

She turned to Easton with a mean look. “And you, let me warn you. Don't you dare hurt Riley again or you won't like what I will do to you and I mean it,” she shot at him.

“And also, Lila is my friend too, so to hell with your rules about me not allowed to come to your home. I will come whenever I want, do you understand?”

Easton sat there, staring blankly at her. Amara ignored how he was looking at her and hugged me tight.

“Call me if you need anything, Riley. I love you,” she said before she walked out.

As soon as Amara left, Easton turned to me. “Stay here with Lila,” he said gently. “I want to go and get you and her some clothes to change into when she wakes up.”

At first I declined his offer. “I can take care of myself, just get something for Lila instead,” I replied, my eyes on Lila.

But Easton kept persuading me. “Please let me help, you have to change your clothes too” he said softly. “And you have been through so much already.”

When I saw that he wasn't ready to give up, I finally gave in. Easton left and came back some hours later with a brand new top and trouser.

“Here,” he said gently. “Go change, I will stay with her now.”

I took the clothes from him and thanked before going to clean myself up.

After I changed, we both sat with Lila who was now moved to a private room. None of us could sleep. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of machines. Easton looked at me from the other side of the bed. His eyes stayed on me longer than usual.

“Why are you willing to do anything for your mom?” he asked suddenly, his voice gentle.

I looked at him for a long moment. “Because she did everything for me,” I said softly. “She worked so hard for me to be comfortable even when she was sick. She never complained or got tired of taking care of me after my dad died. So I want to make her proud and take care of her the way she took care of me.”

Easton nodded slowly, his eyes soft now. “I perfectly understand what that feels like. I also care so much for Lila because she is the only one who makes the house feel like home,” he said.

“My parents are always away. She is all I have. So whenever she is sick like this, I become so scared because she is the only one that truly cares about me.”

We talked for a very long time. Our voices stayed low and honest with stolen glances between us. Easton’s eyes stayed on me longer than usual. My heart skipped a beat every time our eyes met. He stood up and walked up to my side and leaned forward a little bit.

My breath caught in my throat by this gesture and the air between us became thick and full of something new.

Just as the mood became softer and more romantic, Easton’s phone suddenly buzzed loudly on the table. He drew back and picked it up slowly.

As he opened the phone, his face changed suddenly from being soft to worried.

“It's a message from Cass,” he said softly. He turned the phone toward me so I could see. The message showed old photos and a clear threat:

“Choose me or I will tell your dad everything about Riley.”

Easton’s hand tightened around the phone. “She won't just stop,” he whispered angrily.