Chapter 50 Hard Truths
Olivia: POV
After the nurse finished checking Emma's vitals, she suggested we all give Emma some time to rest.
I kissed my sister's forehead and promised to return soon, then followed the nurse out of the room.
My body felt heavy with exhaustion, the adrenaline from the rescue finally wearing off.
"Hey," Mike said, catching up with me in the hallway. "You look dead on your feet. I talked to one of the nurses—there's a family rest room down the hall. It's got a couch and everything. Why don't you try to get some real sleep?"
I wanted to protest, but honestly, I could barely keep my eyes open. "Just for a little while," I agreed.
Mike led me to a small but comfortable room with a proper couch, dimmed lighting, and thankfully, no harsh fluorescent bulbs. "I'll wake you if anything changes with Emma," he promised, closing the door behind him.
I stretched out on the couch, using my jacket as a blanket. Despite the more comfortable setting, my mind kept racing—images of Emma hanging from that pier, Blake's face when he found us, the weight of the secret I was carrying. Even in this quiet space, sleep came in restless waves.
I woke up with a start, feeling disoriented and groggy. My phone showed I'd been out for about three hours, but I felt like I'd barely slept at all. My neck was stiff, and there was a persistent ache in my lower back.
Mike knocked softly before poking his head in. "Hey, you're up. I brought coffee," he said, holding out a steaming cup.
The smell hit me before I could even respond, making my stomach revolt violently. I pressed my hand to my mouth, fighting back nausea.
"Thanks, but no," I managed, waving it away. "My stomach's been all over the place. Probably just stress from everything."
Mike set the coffee aside, looking concerned. "You sure you're okay? You've seemed off lately."
"I'm fine," I said quickly, maybe too quickly. "Just worried about Emma. How is she?"
Mike studied me for another moment before letting it drop. "Doctor says she's stable and doing well. They want to keep her one more day for observation, but we can go see her now."
I followed him down the hallway, trying to shake off the lingering queasiness. Through a window, I spotted Blake talking quietly with a police officer near the nurses' station. Our eyes met briefly, and he gave me a small, reassuring smile before returning to his conversation.
Emma looked so small in that hospital bed, her wrists bandaged and her face pale but peaceful. I pulled up a chair beside her, careful not to disturb her rest.
"Still think we should call Mom and Dad?" Mike asked quietly. "Dad's heart condition..."
"We have to," I sighed. "They'd never forgive us for keeping this from them. We can downplay how serious it was, but they deserve to know."
Mike nodded reluctantly. "I'll call once we have more details about her recovery."
"How long was I out?" I asked.
"About three hours. You needed it. Blake stayed until an hour ago—had some business to handle."
Emma's eyes fluttered open, looking confused before focusing on us.
"Hey," I said softly. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got hung from a pier and left for dead," she said with a weak attempt at humor. "So... pretty fucking awful."
Despite everything, I had to smile. Even in a hospital bed, she was still Emma.
"The doctors say you'll be fine," I told her, reaching for her hand. To my surprise, she didn't pull away.
Emma stared at the ceiling for a moment. "I've been a complete nightmare, haven't I?"
"You've had your moments," I admitted.
She laughed, then winced. "That's putting it nicely." She was quiet before adding, "That job at Sunrise Diner? It was the first real job I've ever had. Nobody knew I was a Parker. I was just Emma, the new girl who kept screwing up orders and getting screamed at by the kitchen staff."
I listened as she described her first days—the aching feet, the difficult customers, struggling to remember who ordered what. But there was something almost like pride in her voice.
"I thought I'd hate every second, but... I didn't," she said. "The work sucked, but I felt like I was actually accomplishing something, you know? Not just being 'the Parker girl' who gets everything handed to her."
"I know exactly what that feels like," I said quietly.
Emma looked at me with new understanding. "Yeah, I guess you would." She fidgeted with her IV line. "But I also realized how completely unprepared I am for the real world. No college degree, no actual skills. I couldn't even get promoted to shift supervisor because I don't have a high school diploma."
Mike leaned forward. "It's never too late to change that, Em."
"I know," she said, surprising us both. "That's why I've decided to join the military."
I blinked, certain I'd misheard. "The military?"
She nodded, a determined look replacing her usual defiance. "I need structure. Real discipline. A complete fresh start. The Army can give me that, plus education benefits so I can actually get a degree afterward."
Mike and I exchanged shocked glances.
"That's... a huge decision," Mike said carefully.
"I've thought it through," Emma insisted. "Getting kidnapped gives you plenty of time to think about your life choices." She tried to smile, but I could see tears forming. "I don't want to be this person anymore—the spoiled brat who treats everyone like garbage and runs away when things get difficult."
Mike moved closer, gently messing up her hair. "Those struggles at the diner weren't for nothing. You've grown a lot." His expression grew serious. "But the military isn't a joke, Emma. It requires real commitment and mental toughness. You can't just quit when it gets challenging. Are you truly ready for that?"
"I'm going to see it through," Emma said firmly. "I know my track record is terrible, but I'm serious about this."
I squeezed her hand. "I think you can do it."
Emma looked genuinely surprised. "You do?"
"Absolutely," I said. "You're stubborn as hell—might as well use that Parker trait for something good."
She laughed—a real laugh this time. "Look who's talking."
A nurse interrupted to check Emma's vitals. Mike stepped out to take a phone call, and I used the moment to rest my hand on my stomach, trying to calm another wave of nausea. I'd been doing this more often lately, a gesture that felt both protective and terrifying.
When Mike returned, his expression was serious but satisfied. "Police found solid evidence linking Jenkins to the kidnapping. And once they started investigating, they uncovered a whole network of corporate fraud and bribery. He's looking at serious prison time."
"Good," I said, feeling some tension leave my shoulders. "At least something positive came from this mess."
As Emma drifted back to sleep, exhausted from talking, the nurse suggested we let her rest. Mike and I headed back toward the family room.
"By the way," Mike said casually as we walked, "what's the deal with you and Blake?"
My heart jumped. "Blake and I are just friends."
Mike laughed. "I was actually going to ask where he went, but interesting that your mind went there first."
I felt my face get hot. "He had some business to handle," I mumbled, avoiding Mike's knowing look.
"Right," Mike said, clearly not buying it. "You know, I've always thought you two had some kind of weird chemistry."
"Can we not do this right now?" I snapped, harsher than I meant to.
Mike studied me for a moment before shrugging. "I think there's definitely something between you two," he said, walking away before I could argue.
I watched him go, one hand instinctively moving to my still-flat stomach, wondering how much longer I could keep my secret—and my feelings for Blake—hidden.