The Visit.
1384 Words
Ada's POV
The hospital came into view.
My chest tightened.
“There.”
Liam nodded.
“Yes.”
The cars pulled into the hospital compound.
The guards got out first.
Liam opened my door.
I stepped outside.
I looked at the hospital building.
My mother was inside.
I took a deep breath.
Then I walked in.
The moment I stepped through the hospital entrance, the familiar smell of disinfectant hit me.
My heart tightened.
I hadn't realized how much I missed this place.
Not because I liked hospitals.
Because my mother was here.
We reached the reception desk.
The nurse looked up.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning,” I replied.
I gave her my mother's name.
The nurse typed something into the computer.
Then she smiled.
“She’s still in the same room.”
Relief washed over me.
“She's okay?”
“Yes. Her condition has been stable.”
I released a breath.
“Thank God.”
The nurse looked at Liam briefly before returning her attention to me.
“You can go up.”
“Thank you.”
I turned immediately.
Liam followed.
We walked down the corridor.
My heart was beating faster with every step.
When we reached the room, I stopped outside.
Suddenly, I was nervous.
Liam noticed.
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“You're scared?” He asked
I nodded.
“A little.”
He looked at the door.
“She's your mother.”
“I know.”
“Then go.”
I looked at him.
“You're not coming?”
“I'll wait here.”
I smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
I opened the door.
“Mummy?”
Her head turned.
Her eyes widened.
“Ada?”
I rushed to her.
“Mummy!"
She opened her arms, and I hugged her carefully.
For the first few seconds, I couldn't speak.
I had missed her so much.
She held me tightly.
“My child…”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
She pulled away and looked at my face.
“You look tired.”
I laughed softly.
“You too.”
She frowned.
“Don't change the subject.”
I smiled.
“I'm fine.”
She looked at me suspiciously.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
She reached up and touched my cheek.
“I was worried about you.”
My eyes stung.
“I know.”
“Where have you been?”
I froze.
There it was.
The question I knew she would ask.
I looked down.
“I've been staying somewhere safe.”
“With who?”
I hesitated.
“Someone helped me.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“A man?"
I almost choked.
“Mummy!”
She smiled.
“So it is a man.”
“It's not like that.”
“Then what is it like?”
I sighed.
“He's just helping me.”
She studied my face.
“Does he treat you well?”
I glanced toward the door.
I could see Liam's shadow through the glass.
“Yes.”
My mother smiled.
“Good.”
I shook my head.
“You're already thinking too much.”
“A mother is allowed to think.”
I laughed.
For the first time in days, I felt normal.
Few minutes Later
I finally stepped out of my mother's room.
My heart felt lighter.
She was okay.
She was still weak, but she was doing better.
We talked.
We laughed.
And for a little while, I had forgotten everything else.
But there was something I needed to do before leaving.
The bill.
I walked toward the reception desk.
"i want to ask about my mother's hospital bill.”
The nurse looked at me.
“Her name?”
I gave her the information.
She typed something into the computer.
I waited.
After a few seconds, she frowned slightly.
Then she looked up at me.
“There's no outstanding balance.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“The bill has been settled.”
I stared at her.
“No, it hasn't.”
“Yes, it has.”
“But I haven't paid it.”
The nurse looked at the screen again.
“I am aware.”
I frowned.
“Then who paid it?”
She hesitated.
“I’m sorry. I can't give you that information.”
“Why?”
“The payment was made anonymously.” The nurse said
My eyes widened.
“Anonymous?”
“Yes.”
I stared at her.
“Are you sure?”
“Completely.”
“When was it paid?”
She checked the record.
“Yesterday.”
My heart skipped.
Yesterday.
The same day I arrived at Liam's mansion.
I swallowed.
“Was there a name?”
The nurse shook her head.
“No.”
“Nothing?” I asked
“Nothing we're permitted to disclose.” She replied
I slowly nodded.
“Okay.”
I stepped away from the desk.
My mind was racing.
Someone had paid my mother's hospital bill.
But who?
I hadn't told anyone about it.
And the timing...
Yesterday.
I turned around.
My eyes immediately found Liam.
He was standing near the entrance, speaking with James.
He looked calm.
Completely calm.
I stared at him.
Could he have—
No.
Why would he?
I walked toward him.
The moment he noticed me, he stopped talking.
“You're done?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He studied my face.
“What happened?”
I hesitated.
Then I asked,
“Did you know my mother's hospital bill was paid?”
For the briefest moment...
His eyes changed.
Only for a second.
Then his expression returned to normal.
“No.”
I stared at him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He sounded convincing.
Too convincing.
I folded my arms.
“Because they said it was paid yesterday.”
He nodded.
“That's good.”
“That's all you have to say?”
“What else should I say?” He asked confused
I narrowed my eyes.
“I don't know.”
He held my gaze.
“I didn't pay it.”
I hadn't accused him.
Not directly.
Yet somehow...
He had answered the question I hadn't asked.
My suspicion grew.
But before I could say anything else, James approached.
“Liam.”
He looked at him.
“What?”
James glanced toward me.
“We should leave.”
Liam nodded.
Then he looked back at me.
“Ready?”
I looked at him for another second.
“Yes.”
We walked toward the exit.
But my mind stayed behind.
Someone had paid my mother's bill.
Someone who wanted to remain anonymous.
And I couldn't shake the feeling that I already knew exactly who it was.
I just didn't understand why Liam would do something like that....
And why he would lie about it.
Liam's POV
I watched Ada walk ahead of me.
She was thinking.
I could tell.
She had always been curious.
Too curious sometimes.
And now she was beginning to put pieces together.
I had hoped she wouldn't ask about the hospital bill.
But she had.
And I lied.
Not because I wanted to deceive her.
Because I didn't want her to feel indebted to me.
I had paid the bill anonymously for a reason.
Her mother didn't need to know.
Ada didn't need to know.
At least not yet..
I looked toward the hospital doors.
Then toward the road outside.
The same dark car was nowhere to be seen.
Good.
I turned back to Ada..
She was already waiting beside the car.
I walked toward her.
“You okay?”
She looked at me.
“Yes.”
I knew she wasn't telling the whole truth.
Neither was I.
I opened the car door.
“Let's go.”
She got inside.
I followed.
As the car pulled away from the hospital, I glanced at her.
She was staring out the window.
Quiet.
Thinking..
I wondered what was going through her mind.
Then my phone vibrated.
I checked the message..
The car is gone.
No further activity.
I locked the phone.
For now, that was enough.
Ada was safe.
Her mother was safe.
And the person watching us had disappeared.
But I knew better than to think it was over.
It was only the beginning..
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