Chapter 44 Forty Four

Chapter 44 Forty Four
VALERIE

I followed Mrs. Castillo down the hallway, still feeling the weight of the morning’s tension pressing against my chest.

“Oh, just in time,” she said warmly, her hand brushing mine as she guided Lucas and me.

She pulled us both into a tight hug as we made our way to the dining area, where everyone was already seated.

The smell of dinner filled the room, comforting yet foreign against the ache of the past hours.

“Good evening, sir,” I said softly as I approached Mr. Castillo, trying to steady my voice.

He offered a small smile and replied,

“Good evening, my dear.”

Sofia squealed beside me, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. She whispered quickly in my ear, “How are you?”

“I’m good,” I murmured, forcing a calmness I didn’t quite feel.

We slowly settled into the seats, the clinking of cutlery and soft murmur of conversation filling the space as dinner was served.

Mr. Castillo turned to Lucas, concern knitting his brows. “How’s your arm, Lucas? Any improvement?”

“Yeah, Dad,” Lucas replied calmly, though there was a hint of pride in his voice. “I feel quite better now. It still stings, but with time it will heal. All thanks to Vanessa here.”

Mrs. Castillo passed me a warm, approving smile. I returned it softly, a small ache in my chest at the praise, then focused on my plate as we began eating.

Just then, Mrs. Castillo’s voice broke the rhythm. “You looked so exquisite tonight, my dear.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, cheeks warming faintly.

Mrs. Castillo began to clear her throat like there was something logged there. It escalated into a cough.
Mr. Castillo immediately reached over and patted her back gently, then passed her a glass of water. She drank, but as soon as her lips left the rim, the coughing persisted, sharper this time. She started wheezing too as if she was finding it a little difficult to breathe.

I'd seen this before. It looked like she was having an allergic reaction.

Everyone’s attention shifted instantly, tension cutting through the quiet of the room.

Lucas rose from his seat, moving around the table to stand beside his mother. “Mom?” he asked, voice low but urgent. Sofia mirrored him, hovering with concern.

“What’s going on?” Lucas murmured, scanning the scene with narrowed eyes.

Just then, a maid entered, carrying a small tray.
The sight of it drew Lucas’s gaze immediately, his brows knitting tighter.

“What’s this?” he demanded, voice sharp. “This contains nutmeg. Why’s it here when they all know Mom is allergic?”

The maid froze, color draining from her face. Sofia glanced down at the tray, her hand instinctively touching it before placing it back in place. “Oh my God,” she confirmed quietly.

Lucas’s voice rose, controlled but edged with anger. “Who made this?”

The maid flinched at his tone. Lucas’s eyes narrowed further. “Call the maids—all of them—now.”

“We need to find her EpiPen.” Sofia said as she ran off with a few maids following after her.

Lucas pulled out his phone, fingers moving swiftly as he dialed. I didn’t say a word. My legs carried me silently out of the dining room and into the kitchen, my mind racing.
Something needed to be done while they look for the EpiPen.

I grabbed a small bottle of antihistamine syrup and a clean glass of water. I mixed the syrup with warm water, careful to make it palatable and easy for someone struggling with an allergy to swallow.

Carrying the mixture back, I found Lucas still on the phone, speaking rapidly, clearly calling for an ambulance. My eyes flicked to Mr. Castillo, who looked tense and pale.

I crouched gently in front of Mrs. Castillo, tilted her head slightly back, and placed the mixture to her lips. She sipped it weakly, coughed once, then swallowed slowly.

Lucas' voice trembled beside me. “What are you doing, Valerie?”

“This will help,” I whispered, keeping my eyes on Mrs. Castillo. Slowly, her coughing reduced and her symptoms seemed to ease a bit.

Finally, she managed to sit upright, still shaky but more stable. I released a deep breath, relief washing over me. It had worked—for now.

At that moment, Sofia came back into the dining room, with the EpiPen in hand. She paused on noticing her mom was in a better state. “H…how?”

Lucas’ eyes stayed on me for a moment, confusion and something like shock swirling in his gaze.

Mr. Castillo collected the EpiPen from Sofia and moved to Mrs. Castillo side to administer it. “Let’s get her to the hospital immediately.”

Lucas snapped out of his daze, his phone still clutched in one hand. He and Logan moved quickly and lifted Mrs. Castillo carefully as we all made our way out of the house.



It had been thirty minutes since we brought Mrs. Castillo to the hospital, and still there was no word from the doctor.

Mr. Castillo leaned at the far end, hands clasped beneath his chin, his posture tense, radiating worry. He hadn’t said a word, and the silence around him felt heavy.

Lucas, on the other hand, had barely stopped moving since we stepped inside.

He paced back and forth, each step measured, his jaw tight.

Sofia sat silently beside me, her hands wringing in her lap, her nervous energy practically radiating off her. Judging from the expressions on their faces, it was clear this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

I felt my own chest tighten, a knot of worry twisting in my stomach. The situation was well taken care of but I couldn't help but worry.

Just then, a soft ding echoed down the hallway, and the doctor appeared, walking briskly toward us. Everyone stood immediately, a collective tension breaking slightly.

“Mrs. Castillo is in good shape now,” the doctor said, his voice steady, professional. “The epinephrine stopped the anaphylaxis, and the antihistamine helped manage the remaining symptoms.”

From the corner of my eyes, I saw grateful smiles and relieved gazes directed at me.

Relief tried to seep into my chest, but it was overshadowed by the weight of one particular gaze.

Lucas hadn’t moved. His eyes stayed fixed on me, unreadable, steady. I felt a nervous twist in my stomach.

I didn’t know what he was thinking, and the intensity of his stare made me suddenly aware of every inch of my presence in that room.