Chapter 30 VERY QUIET

Chapter 30 VERY QUIET
DOMINIC

I know Mum is desperate to prove Jayden is mine, but it’s ridiculous if she thinks a simple blood match can confirm something like that.

If the blood matches, her hope will probably jump a hundred times higher, and that’s the last thing I want.

But right now, saving Jayden is the only thing that matters. And somewhere deep inside me, there’s a quiet fear. I don’t want anything to happen to him.

The doctor takes my blood sample. Ten minutes later, he returns with the result.

“It’s a match,” he says. “We’ll proceed with the transfusion immediately, sir.”

I nod.

When I walk back into the waiting area, Mum’s head is resting on Violet’s shoulder. With her blood pressure the way it is, she shouldn’t even be going through this much stress.

My eyes drift to Violet. For a moment, I’m glad she’s here. But I don’t like what her presence is doing to us.

If I give her even the smallest reason to believe there’s still something between us, I’ll only hurt her again. And not just her. I'll be mad at myself too.

Whatever we had is long gone. I loved her once. Losing her took everything I had left.

I rub my temple softly before walking toward them.

“Hey,” I say softly. “You must be exhausted. I can call you a cab to take you home.”

It’s the least I can do after dragging her into this. But her expression tightens instantly.

“I’m fine,” she says. “I’ll stay here until everything is over.”

I glance at Mum, then back at her. “Don’t you think you should…”

“I’m fine, Dom,” she interrupts gently, though there’s a firmness behind it. “Really. You can stop worrying about me.”

My eyes drop to the floor. “Alright.”

A moment passes before she speaks again.

“So… how did it go? Was it a match?”

I nod. That same look of disappointment crosses her face again.

I want to say something, maybe to reassure her, but there’s really no point. It would only give her hope again.

“I should take Mum home,” I say. “With her blood pressure, she shouldn’t stay here too long. Will you be alright on your own?”

She nods and gives me a small smile. Though, not the bright one I’m used to. Just that quiet one.

I step closer to Mum and gently brush her hair aside. “Mum?” I call softly.

Her eyes open slowly. The moment she wakes fully, she cups my face.

“How is my grandchild, Dom?”

I sigh quietly but I don’t correct her this time.

“He’ll be fine,” I just answer.

Her face lights up like a flashlight. She pulls me into a hug before I can react.

“Thank you, son.”

For a moment, I don’t move. I just stay there locked in her arms. After Dad died, I can’t even remember the last time she held me like this.

Her warmth is almost unfamiliar. Part of me wishes the moment could last longer.

Eventually she pulls away and I take her hands in mine.

“I’m taking you home.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she says immediately, pulling her hands back. “I’m staying until the doctor tells me Jayden…”

“Mum,” I interrupt firmly. “Stop.”

I soften my voice. “I’ll stay here. But you need to go home and rest. I promise I’m not leaving him.”

She turns to Violet. “You’re staying here with this brat, right?”

I roll my eyes. Not again.

Before I can even protest, Violet nods.

“You can trust me,” she says with a calm smile.

And just like that, Mum brightens.

“Good,” she says, standing up. “Lead the way, young man.”

She’s already walking before I can respond. Outside, Wilson is standing beside the car.

The look on his face says everything. He’s worried sick but trying not to show it.

“How is my son?” he asks quietly, his eyes almost teary.

I place a hand on his shoulder. “He’s in good hands. You should go home and get some rest. You can come back tomorrow. I'll drive mum home.”

His brows knit together. “That’s my job…”

“I insist,” I say gently. “Take a break. I’ll take Mum home tonight.”

After a moment of hesitation, I squeeze his shoulder.

“I’ll stay here tonight and make sure Jayden is okay. I don’t have work tomorrow.”

His expression softens immediately. “Thank you,” he says quietly before heading off.

I help Mum into the car, slide into the driver’s seat, and start the engine.

Then I drive out of the hospital compound.

ELLIOT

When we step back into the sitting room, Mum is exactly where we left her. The moment she sees Grace, her face lights up again.

“I hope that look on your face doesn’t mean Elliot already convinced you to leave,” she says, frowning slightly.

Grace smiles and stops in front of her.

“No, he wouldn’t.”

Good. She’s playing along just fine.

I take the opportunity to push things further before Mum finds another topic to trap us with. Walking up behind Grace, I drape an arm casually over her shoulder.

“Alright, Mum. You caught me,” I say. “Grace and I are… seeing each other. But we’re taking things slow, right?”

Grace stiffens under my arm, but she nods anyway.

“Right.”

“So we’d appreciate keeping it that way,” I add smoothly. My arm slowly relaxes around her shoulders, and the fact that she doesn’t push it away sends a strange little tingle through my stomach.

“We were actually in the middle of something before you came in…”

Mum raises both hands in surrender.

“I get it, I get it. No need to chase me out again. I’m leaving.”

Perfect. She actually bought it.

She gives me a dreamy look. “I’m happy you finally came to your senses. I’m still mad about how you treated Hazel, but I suppose you made up for it.” Her eyes drift to Grace. “Especially with such a beautiful young woman.”

“That’s great, Mum. I’ll call you a cab.”

She glares at me. “I can take care of myself. Go deal with yours.”

Then she leans closer to Grace and whispers something into her ear.

Whatever it is makes Grace burst into laughter like someone just told the funniest joke in the world.

What the hell?

Grace glances at me and laughs even harder while Mum gives me a knowing look.

Now I’m completely confused.

I try to focus on why she’s laughing so much, but instead my brain keeps drifting to how ridiculously pretty she looks when she does laugh that way.

I should probably stop thinking that.

The moment Mum closes the door behind her, I turn to Grace.

“Alright, that’s enough,” I say. “Would you stop laughing?”

That only makes her laugh harder.

“Why?” she manages between breaths. “I bet you don’t even know how funny that was.”

I fold my arms. “Clearly I don’t. So how about you explain it instead of making fun of an innocent man?”

She rolls her eyes, pointing at me like she’s deciding whether I deserve to know.

“Fine. Your mum thinks you’ve been single for so long that you probably don’t even remember how to kiss a woman.”

She pauses dramatically. “And she suggested I teach you.”

She bursts into laughter again. This time I can’t help it, I chuckle too.

“Really? She actually said that?”

“Yep.”

I shake my head, sighing. “Alright. You can stop laughing now.”

She gives me a mocking look, pretending to calm down before slowly stepping backward.

Then she tilts her head and adds, “Honestly… you kind of look like she might be right.”

That’s it. I lunge for her. She darts around the couch.

“Stop it, Elliot!” she squeals.

“Oh, now you want mercy?” I scoff, chasing after her.

She runs again, laughing.

“Alright,” I say, slowing down. “I’ll let you off this time.” I lie. I don't intend to.

The moment she tries to run again, I grab her wrist and pull.

She stumbles straight into me.The momentum sends us both crashing backward onto the couch.

Grace lands on top of me. And for a moment, neither of us moves.

Our eyes lock. And suddenly the room feels very quiet.