"I would rather be hurt than owe you anything."
Rauf nodded, as if he understood her perfectly. "Fine. Then don’t owe me anything. I just want to keep you safe."
The frown on June’s face deepened. "I think I’m safe without you."
"Who’s at the door?" Serena’s voice cut through any response Rauf had for her.
Instead of replying, June left the door and allowed him in.
Rauf looked straight at the woman. He had been in this exact position she was in and could say he understood what she was feeling now.
"Who are you?" Serena asked with a frown. Her eyes moved up and down his body in suspicion.
Rauf chuckled.
"My name is Rauf Salvador."
A pause.
The voice was familiar, but more importantly, the name was familiar.
"Rauf!" Serena’s eyes widened, and she sat up. "Just like Chris, you look different."
It was hard to believe the young men she knew were now this grown up. She had always imagined them with the look she had seen them in last.
Rauf chuckled. "Of course, I’m no longer the little boy you helped years ago." With his gaze still fixed on Serena, he nodded. "And congratulations on getting your sight back."
June remained at the back, her eyes moving from Rauf to Serena.
She never thought, not for once, that they would know each other.
"Wait. You guys know each other?"
Serena nodded. "Of course, Rauf is like a son to me." She then turned back to Rauf. "How did you know so quickly that I had already done the surgery? And how did you know my hospital room?"
Now that she could see, Serena looked like a totally different person to June.
Gone was the woman who relied on others to give her information. She seemed to suspect every little thing.
Rauf seemed to observe that too. "Chris told me. He is the reason I am here."
June’s eyes widened slightly.
He knew Chris too.
Of course, he did.
Knowing Serena automatically meant he knew Chris.
"Chris!" Serena sounded surprised. "You’re already friends with my son."
Rauf shook his head. "I wouldn’t really classify our relationship as friendship. But we have a mutual."
Just as he said the word "mutual," he stole a glance at June.
She looked away.
If there was something she understood about whatever was happening right now, it was the fact that she couldn’t push Rauf away just whenever she wanted.
Rauf knew the people who were suddenly becoming so important to her, and he was important to them too.
Their lives were intertwined.
The realization made her so shocked that June sat down, saying nothing.
Serena, glad to see another company at the hospital, was busy with Rauf.
"Chris hardly makes friends. Whoever this mutual is, they must be special to him."
Rauf nodded. "Of course, she is very special to him."
And then he added, "To me too."
Again, his gaze moved to June, who was suddenly quiet.
He could tell she had lost the spirit to push or send him out of the room.
And inside, Rauf was dancing.
This was the first time she was reacting to him in a totally different way.
And he was going to count that as a win.
He moved back. "I’d love to stay and chat with you, Serena. But I promised Chris something, and I have to do it."
Serena nodded. "Yeah. I shouldn’t waste your time with unnecessary talk. You can always come to the mansion to dine with us."
June didn’t even bother contradicting Serena’s invitation. There was no point.
Even if she didn’t want to, they would still meet up in one way or another.
Rauf stepped backward, stealing a glance at her before leaving the room.
June watched him go, her heart light because of his actions.
He hadn’t truly come to persuade her or gift her.
He came because Chris had called on him.
And she remembered vividly Chris asking her to promise she would let whoever he sent perform his duty.
So, this was what he had meant.
Rauf had come himself to protect her.
Not to argue about the baby.
And he hadn’t sent any of his guys.
He had left whatever he was doing and come all the way here for her.
With her thoughts focused on Rauf, June had no idea Serena was looking at her.
"Do you like him?"
Sharply, she turned her face to Serena. Her cheeks were turning shades of pink.
"No. Of course not. Why would you say I like him?"
Serena’s eyes danced with amusement. "It’s written on your face."
June wiped her face with her hand as if to clear whatever was written on it.
"You’re just thinking that way. If there’s something I have towards Salvador, it’s hatred."
Serena studied her for a while, nodding. "I wouldn’t try to convince you, but I know there’s a thin line between love and hate."
There was a sudden sadness in Serena’s eyes, like she was gone from her presence and thinking of something from the past.
June latched onto the emotion. "Are you okay?"
Serena shook her head. "I’m fine. I just don’t want you to rush into any decision based on your emotions."
June could tell there was more to the story, but she decided not to continue on it.
"He’s married, Mother."
She expected Serena to gasp and probably thrash Rauf a bit, but she only nodded.
"Oh! I just remembered. Amie claimed to be married to him."
For the third time, June’s lips parted in surprise.
"You know about his marriage to Amie?"
Serena nodded. "When I discovered Amie was my daughter, I planned on linking her up with my friend’s son, but she had boldly announced she was married to Rauf Salvador. I was so happy for her because I knew Rauf was a good guy."
Her face turned into a frown.
"But seeing that you like him, I wished I hadn’t rooted for her."
June stared at her mother in disbelief.
The way she remembered every little detail.
Then her gaze moved towards the door.
Could Rauf be waiting at the other side of the door?
June’s hand clenched beside her.
She wished she could tell Serena that Amie was never married to Rauf.
If anyone had the right to be called his wife, it was her.
She was used at her convenience and dumped when they felt she wasn’t needed anymore.
But today was a good day for Serena.
She had been smiling ever since she discovered the surgery was a success.
June wouldn’t be the one to wipe the smile off her face so soon.
Serena engaged her in more fun talks, completely unaware of what was going on in her head.
They were engrossed in their chat when the door suddenly burst open.
Chris came in with Rauf right behind him.
June’s heart skipped a beat.
Rauf had been waiting outside all day, trying to protect them, but her gaze stopped at her brother.
His usually composed face was sweaty, and he looked a bit tired.
"Is everything okay?" Serena asked before June could.
Chris sighed, pinching his nose. "Mother, we have a little problem."
Every trace of laughter was gone from Serena’s face. She looked like she was ready for war at that very moment.
"What?"
Chris ruffled his hair, his eyes landing on June. He didn’t want to say whatever it was in her presence.
But he couldn’t just ask her to go out. It would make her realize he was hiding a secret.
And knowing June, it would only make her more curious.
"What is it?" Serena asked.
"The Monterrios have just discovered that June is your biological daughter."
Serena frowned.
The Monterrios were old, inherited enemies of the Vassaris.
"How?" she asked.
"When the ladies were attacked," he continued, "it wasn’t an accident, Mother. They were trying to get a sample from them for DNA testing."
"What?" Serena shouted, then instantly calmed herself. "If the Monterrios found June’s and Amie’s samples, there was no way they could compare them with mine. They don’t even have my sample."
"Apparently, Mother, they do. And just today, they were able to confirm that June, and not Amie, is your daughter."
Speechless, Serena stared at Chris.
She had just gotten her sight back, and there seemed to be a problem already.
Yet the Monterrios weren’t the kind of enemy they could take lightly.
Whatever was happening between the two families had been going on for generations. She didn’t want June inheriting it.
It was the reason she was kidnapped and had ended up marrying Samir.
"Who are the Monterrios?" June asked in a panicked voice.
Putting herself in danger was a different issue, but putting her baby in danger was something she wouldn’t tolerate.
"Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. The Monterrios wouldn’t touch a hair on your head," Serena said, trying to assure her.
But the memory of falling at the gaming center was clear in her head.
"No, Mother. You don’t get it."
June’s voice trembled.
"It’s not about me. It’s about the baby."