Chapter 114

Nadine 

I glance around the room, my heart pounds as I shift my gaze between Mum and Gabriel, trying to make sense of their argument or the secret they’re hiding.

“Mum, please,” I say, my voice trembling. 

“What is going on? Can you just say it?” I gesture toward Gabriel. 

"I don’t even know this man, but if he can donate a kidney for you, he must mean something. Who is he? What does he want?"

Mum meets my eyes for a second, then looks at Gabriel. Her lips press into a thin line as she squeezes her eyes shut. For a long moment, she’s silent, shaking her head slowly, as though wrestling with thoughts she can’t bring herself to say aloud.

“Mum, what is this? Can you just say it and get it over with?” my patience wears thin. I can feel she has a secret she’s holding onto tightly.

Before she can respond, a sharp, piercing scream echoes through the house. Shawn. He’s awake, and the absence of anyone around has star