Chapter 71
When June left Chris’s office, her heart was beating fast, and she felt restless.
Even though Chris had insisted that they had until evening before leaving for the hospital, she found herself already packing a small bag.
"A sleepover cloth will be okay," she said, dropping the cloth into her bag. "My prenatal drugs." She added them to the bag too.
Her gaze moved around the room, temporarily stopping at the dress she was tempted to try on, but she forced herself to ignore it.
"I can always check it later."
The most important thing right now was not forgetting anything she had to take to the hospital.
As she packed her bag, she tried to come up with ways of communicating with Serena.
It had never been the two of them alone in a room. There was always someone else in the room, and it had been easier to ask her things when others were there.
But if she was left alone with Serena in the room, she didn’t think she would be able to question her.
And above all, she wanted to know what happened.
Why had she left her alone with Samir when she had such resources to take care of her?
Time refused to move forward as June stared at it every five minutes, willing it to go faster.
She didn’t feel hungry as her stomach did different backflips in anticipation.
Deciding it was best to do something else to while away the time, she decided to call Andy.
It was already wrong of her to take an absence without informing him, and now she was spending more days at home when she knew fully well that Andy needed more helping hands.
The phone beeped for a while before a familiar voice filled her ears.
"June."
June forced a smile, not that Andy could see her face.
"Andy... I’m really, really sorry."
They spoke for five minutes, with June telling him to give her an indefinite leave. She also told him that she would be resting until she felt better.
By the time she hung up, Andy was telling her to rest well and not rush herself at all.
The call had gone more smoothly than she expected. She had thought she would have to repeat herself countless times before she could change his mind.
Again, time remained stagnant.
Frustrated by the lack of things to do, she dropped onto the bed.
By the time June opened her eyes, it was way past six.
Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the time.
Immediately, she dropped her bag over her shoulder and left the room.
Her legs carried her as fast as they could towards Chris’s office.
Had they already left?
Why hadn’t Chris come to wake her up?
Her head swam with different excuses and reasons.
Soon, she was banging on the office door.
"What are you doing?" a voice said behind her.
June turned in anger, only to come face-to-face with Chris. Instead of her anger melting, it only rose when she saw him.
"Why didn’t you wake me up?"
Chris looked around to see if anyone had heard her. Then, without responding, he pulled her with him to his room.
June followed reluctantly.
When they got to his room, he let her settle on the couch while he started unbuttoning his shirt.
"Why are you getting angry?"
Seeing Chris just getting dressed, some of the anger started melting away.
"Sorry. I thought you left without me."
Chris chuckled, tossing the shirt aside before opening his closet in search of a different shirt.
"Of course not. Remember, you’ll be the one to stay with Mother before, during, and after the surgery. I’ll only come to check on you there."
Surprised, her eyes widened.
"You’re not also staying?"
"Unfortunately, no. But if anything happens, you call me. You can also make a video call. Regardless of what I am doing, I promise to pick your call."
Slowly, June nodded.
She had thought Chris would certainly be there, but just her and Serena...
She swallowed.
Chris had started wearing a blue, crisp shirt.
"Mother will leave first, then we will follow. We will make it seem like we aren’t going to the same place."
She nodded.
He finished buttoning his shirt.
"Even though it wouldn’t be obvious, Nate and some other guys would be keeping an eye on both of you. They will be undercover."
June thought about it for a while.
When Rauf wanted to do his surgery, they didn’t have to go through all this secrecy.
She wanted to know.
"Does everything have to be this secretive? I mean, it’s just an eye surgery."
Chris nodded, but there was no sign of laughter on his face.
"It may seem so, but Mother is a high-profile woman with lots of enemies. Her blindness is an advantage to many gangs. And I am certain they wouldn’t want her to see. So, if any of those enemies get a whiff that she’s going for surgery, it would be a total disaster."
June sat up.
As far as she had been at the Vassari’s mansion, which had only been a few days, it felt like a family with money.
She couldn’t imagine the danger they had to be facing.
"But don’t worry. No danger will meet you and Mother. I promise to keep you both safe, and I will keep my promise."
June nodded again.
"And my beautiful niece, too," he added, staring at her stomach.
June smiled too.
It was more difficult hiding it now. Not with her stomach looking like she had eaten too much.
"Thank you."
Chris shrugged.
"This is part of what elder brothers do for their younger ones."
Finally, he pulled the chain he had bought at the store out.
June had also put hers in the bag.
They hadn’t found the perfect time to give them to Serena, but now seemed like the perfect time.
"Also bought mine," she told him. "I want her to see the first gift I have for her."
Chris chuckled, pocketing the chain.
"She will definitely like it."
Those words brought a look of sobriety to June’s face.
It was different when Serena couldn’t see.
It was difficult for June to tell if she liked her or not, but now that she was getting eye surgery, what if she didn’t like her after getting her sight back?
There had to be a reason she had left her with Samir.
What if there was something about her that irritated Serena?
Chris, who had been studying her face, noticed the sudden change in her expression.
"What’s wrong?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
Chris smiled.
"I’m certain it’s not nothing. You know you can tell me anything."
The look on Chris’s face was more assuring than the words of his mouth.
June felt like she could tell him her deepest secrets and he still wouldn’t judge her.
So, she told him.
"What if after regaining her sight, Mother doesn’t like me?"
Chris stared at her like she was delusional.
Where did that thought come from all of a sudden?
He sighed, resting his hand on her shoulder.
"Of course, when Mother sees you, she won’t like you."
June’s stomach sank.
"She’s going to love you," Chris completed.
The butterflies in her stomach lurched at once.
"Are you sure?" she questioned.
Chris removed his hand from her shoulder and placed his wristwatch on his wrist.
"That’s non-negotiable. You’re Mother’s flesh and blood, and you have absolutely no idea how long she has been waiting for you."
That was assuring.
She told her beating heart to calm down. At least she should pray for a successful surgery first.
Once Chris was done, he sprayed himself with perfume. At the same time, his phone beeped.
He picked it up, and his eyes glanced through what was on the screen.
"Mother is finally gone. Let’s go."
June stood up with him.
It was finally happening.
Yet, no matter how she tried to calm her beating heart, it still ran like crazy.
The last time she had followed someone she cared about to a hospital, she had left there heartbroken.
But she hoped it would be different this time.
Her mother would be different.
As they got to the living room, Amie was seated with Gerald right in front of her.
They stopped mid-conversation, their gazes staying on June.
When Amie saw them both, she pushed herself up from the chair.
"Brother, where are you going?"
Chris moved forward.
"When did I start telling you about my movements?"
Gerald’s gaze zeroed in on June, and she positioned herself better behind Chris.
"But you never used to go out this late."
Chris furrowed his brow.
"Have you been following me?"
Her face fell.
"No, Brother. It’s just that I have been bored at home. And I thought if you’re going somewhere fun, you should at least take me with you."
Chris stared at her from head to toe.
"If you want to go out that badly, I remember you said you have a husband. It’s better you pay your husband a visit."
Stunned that Chris, who had been nice to her, could turn so cruel, she watched him pull June with him towards the door.
"Should I follow them?" Gerald asked in a deep tone.
But Amie waved.
"Leave them. I bet they are going somewhere fun. After all, June has to appreciate him for the dress he got her today."