Chapter 141 HOMECOMING

Chapter 141 HOMECOMING
Godiva's POV

“Look Div, my grandmother was sick, and Mum took me on one important visit before she loses her memory...” he explained, staring at me for a moment before adding, “Typical old people's sickness.”

He had no reason to lie, so when I noticed Dina's judgmental stare, I quickly accepted his explanation.

The remaining part of the journey was quiet. We spoke only in whispers, and I spent most of the ride sleeping on Jerald’s thigh.

How Dina felt sitting beside Mrs. Young, I didn't know. One thing I knew was that she had the privilege of picking whatever song she wanted to play.

At one point while I was asleep, I was awakened by Jerald and Dina arguing over a song Jerald wanted to play but Dina refused to allow. Through it all, Mrs. Young remained silent. Seeing the sad smile she wore from time to time, I could tell she had a lot on her mind.

“I see you're finally awake,” Mrs. Young remarked, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

“Oh yes, ma,” I replied shyly, lifting my head off Jerald’s thigh.

“I didn't think you'd be the emotional type to cry almost throughout the journey,” she teased with a warm laugh.

“I'm not usually this emotional. That place felt like home to me,” I admitted with an embarrassed chuckle.

“Your mum did a great job letting you travel without company and stay away for this long,” she commented.

“Yeah,” I responded, unsure whether she was being sarcastic or genuinely meant it.

“But you also let Jerald travel without company,” Dina pointed out playfully, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“I didn't let him travel alone,” Mrs. Young corrected firmly. I could see the seriousness on her face through the rearview mirror.

“Oh, come on, Mum! You don't have to embarrass me,” Jerald groaned, pretending to cover my ears.

“His driver brought him to me. The moment he told his father about his intended visit, his dad immediately asked the driver to bring him over,” Mrs. Young explained with satisfaction.

“Oh, great, Mum,” Jerald muttered dramatically, earning a soft laugh from me.

“I think he's grown enough to travel without company,” Dina teased, twisting around to grin at him.

“No matter how grown he is, he's still my little boy,” Mrs. Young replied fondly as we drove through the gigantic gate leading into the nurses' quarters.

For a second, I forgot myself and simply stared in awe. The quarters looked completely different from how they had looked three weeks earlier when I left. Nothing much had actually changed apart from the neatly trimmed flowers and freshly mowed lawns, yet somehow everything felt new to me.

“Ma, you really don't have to drive us home. You've done enough already,” Dina said cautiously, throwing me a tense glance.

That was when I snapped back to reality and realized Mrs. Young was almost at our block.

“This is bad,” I whispered to Jerald before turning to Mrs. Young. “Thank you so much for the kind gesture, but you really don't have to take us right to our doorstep.”

“Don't worry,” Mrs. Young assured calmly. “I already promised your godmother I'd make sure you all got home safely, and I'd also like to say hello to your mum.”

I exchanged a silent look with Dina.

I hope Mama isn't home.

Without saying a word, I knew she understood exactly what I meant. It wasn't our first time communicating with just our eyes.

Or should we lead her to the wrong house? Dina seemed to ask, squeezing her eyes shut dramatically.

“Relax, Zhin,” Jerald whispered with an amused grin, gently covering my hand with his. The warmth of his touch somehow calmed me.

“Ma, we're here,” I blurted out the moment the car stopped in front of my block.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Dina staring at me in disbelief.

“Okay,” Mrs. Young acknowledged, parking the car.

“Thank you, ma,” Dina and I chorused as we climbed out.

“So, you both live here?” Mrs. Young asked, pointing toward my block.

“Yes, ma. We are practically siste...”

“Dina lives on the ground floor in Block C,” I quickly interrupted with an awkward laugh, pointing toward her block. “But we're almost always together here.”

Jerald burst into laughter at the little drama unfolding before him, while Dina shot me a murderous glare as she pulled our luggage from the boot. I felt guilty for exposing her house, but there was no way I was going to let that fierce woman know where I lived without sacrificing Dina's location too.

“Is your mum in?” Mrs. Young asked, locking her car with the remote.

“I... I guess so,” I replied hesitantly as we walked toward the door.

After pressing the doorbell twice, we waited patiently, but there was still no response.

Yes! I celebrated inwardly.

“I think Mama is still at work,” I said, pretending to search behind the flower vase for the spare key.

“What about your mum?” Mrs. Young asked, turning to Dina.

“She’s definitely at work,” Dina answered almost immediately, forcing a bright smile.

“I found the key,” I announced triumphantly as I unlocked the door.

“There's no need for me to come in since your mothers aren't home. I'll stop by another time,” Mrs. Young said with a pleasant smile as she turned to leave.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Young. We truly appreciate the kind gesture. God bless you,” I said gratefully, bowing slightly, while Dina copied me with an equally genuine smile.

“You're welcome,” she replied warmly as she headed back to her car.

“You girls are something else,” Jerald laughed, finally unable to hold it in any longer. He stepped closer and slipped an arm around my waist. “By the way, does that doorbell even work?” he murmured mischievously.

“Come on, we aren't that devious,” Dina retorted, shaking her head as she pushed the door open, leaving Jerald and me standing in that awkward position.

“Take your hands off me. Your mum is watching,” I whispered frantically, trying to pry his hand away.

“Even better,” Jerald murmured boldly, his eyes dancing with mischief. “She should know you and I are bound together forever.”

Before I could react, he leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on my lips, then turned and walked away with the most satisfied smile on his face.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

I hurried into the house and slammed the door shut. I couldn't bear to see Mrs. Young's reaction after her son had kissed me so boldly in front of her.

My heart pounded wildly against my chest when I noticed Mrs. Young still hadn't driven away. She remained seated inside her car without showing the slightest sign of leaving.