Chapter 28

chapter

twenty-eight

The hospital smelled like antiseptic, the sharp, sterile scent cutting through the thick air of anxiety that hung over everything. Rhiannon sat in the small waiting room, her foot tapping nervously on the linoleum floor. Her heart pounded, her fingers twisted together in her lap as she stared at the door, waiting. Any second now, her parents would walk through it.

After Redwood Coast Rescue pulled her and Pierce out of the rubble, they'd both been rushed to the nearest hospital. It had taken most of the day, but eventually, the doctors had cleared them both to go home.

She hadn't seen Pierce since.

Where was he?

As soon as she was medically cleared, Rylan called their parents to let them know. They'd flown in right after she was rescued from the gift shop and now insisted she stay at the hospital until they got there. Thankfully, she'd at least been able to shower and was given a fresh change of clothes for the reunion.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. Relief, fear, guilt—it all crashed together, making her feel unsteady. Like the ground could shift beneath her feet again at any moment.

Rylan sat beside her, his arm slung loosely around her shoulders, providing the kind of quiet, steady comfort that only an older brother could. He had always been her rock, and she loved him more than ever.

The door creaked open, and her breath caught in her throat.

There they were.

Clayton Cross stood tall, though his face was etched with worry and exhaustion. His hair had grayed at the temples and begun to recede since she last saw him, but his eyes—those same warm, steady greenish-gold eyes she had inherited—were fixed on her with a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming relief.

Behind him was her mother, looking more fragile than Rhiannon remembered. Delia's once vibrant chestnut hair was streaked with silver, and there were dark circles under her eyes, but it was the way she moved—slowly, carefully—that made Rhiannon's heart twist.

She barely registered standing up. Before she knew it, she was in their arms, wrapped in the warmth and safety she had missed so desperately. Her father's embrace was tight, his hand cupping the back of her head like he had when she was a little girl.

"Thank God," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank God you're okay."

Rhiannon couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They spilled down her cheeks, and she clung to him, her breath hitching with sobs.

"I'm sorry," she choked out. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean?—"

"Hush, baby girl," Delia said, stroking her hair gently. "You don't need to apologize. We're just so glad you're safe."

The three of them stood there for what felt like forever, locked in an embrace that was as much about healing as it was about love. But eventually, Rhiannon felt her mother's arms loosen, and when she pulled back, she saw it—the weariness in her eyes, the pallor of her skin.

She frowned, wiping at her tears. "Mom? Are you okay?"

Delia smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine, sweetheart."

But her father's face tightened, and he looked away. Rylan's breath hitched like he was holding back a sob.

Rhiannon's heart sank. "What is it?"

There was a beat of silence, heavy and tense.

"Tell me," Rhiannon insisted, stepping back, her gaze shifting between her parents and brother.

Delia sighed softly, her hand drifting to the scarf wrapped around her neck. "I didn't want to tell you like this, not right after everything you've been through... but I'm sick, Rhee. I've been battling cancer for a few months now."

The world tilted beneath her like another earthquake had shattered the entire foundation of her world.

Rhiannon's legs gave out from under her, and she sank into the nearest chair, the air rushing from her lungs as if she'd been sucker punched. "Cancer?" she whispered, the word tasting bitter and wrong on her tongue. It felt foreign like it didn't belong to her mother.

Clayton reached out, taking her hand. "She's getting the best treatment."

Delia moved to sit beside her, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. "I'm fighting it with everything I have. The doctors are optimistic that I'll beat it. We caught it early enough. But it's been… hard."

Rhiannon's chest tightened painfully. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"We didn't want to worry you while you were stressed about leaving Japan without a plan. We had planned to tell you when you got home."

Rhiannon shook her head, her tears blurring her vision again. "You should've told me as soon as you found out. I would have been here. You know I would have been here."

"I know," her mother whispered and cradled her face in her hands. "But you have your own life, Rhee. And I'm strong. I'm fighting this. I'll be okay."

Rhiannon swallowed hard, trying to process everything. Her mother's strength had always been a source of comfort, but now, it felt like a weight on her chest. She wanted to be strong for her mother, but all she felt was helplessness.

Her mind drifted to Pierce. He was the one she wanted to call, the one who had been her anchor through so much of this nightmare.

She waited until her parents returned to their hotel so her mother could rest, then she pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

It rang once. Twice.

No answer.

She stared at the screen, the pit in her stomach growing. She called again, but it went straight to voicemail. Her heart sank further, and she dropped the phone into her lap.

"Pierce?" Rylan asked quietly.

She nodded, unable to meet his eyes.

"He's dealing with a lot," Rylan said after a beat. "But he cares about you, Rhee. I can see that."

Rhiannon let out a shaky breath, wiping at her eyes. "He's pulling away. I can feel it."

Rylan leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. "I gave him a hard time. Told him he needed to walk away."

"Rylan!" Her stomach tightened. "What did he say?"

"He's trying to figure out what's best for you. He's torn between keeping you close and letting you go because he thinks that'll keep you safe."

A bitter laugh escaped her. "He's doing exactly what you always do. Trying to protect me by shutting me out."

Rylan's lips pressed into a thin line. "Maybe. But I'm not sure he's wrong."

Rhiannon turned to him, the weight of his words sinking in. "You don't think we should be together."

"I didn't say that," Rylan corrected, his voice gentle. "What I think is that he loves you, but he's scared. And maybe… maybe he has good reason to be. Maybe that's not something you should brush off."

She scowled at him. "I love him."

"I know you do." Rylan's eyes softened as he reached out to take her hand.

"I'm not giving up on him. I'm going to be with him with or without your blessing."

"Rhee, you've always had my blessing. I just want you to be happy. I want you to be safe. And it bothers me that Pierce makes you happy but not safe." He sighed. "But you're right. You need to make your own decisions. You're not a little girl anymore, and I trust you to do what's right for you."

Rhiannon blinked back fresh tears, her heart swelling with emotion. "For what it's worth, Pierce has always kept me safe. When he destroyed the core, I thought we were dead. I told him to do it, knowing it would kill us. But the moment he did, he grabbed me and shoved me into an air vent. He's the reason I'm alive right now."

After several beats of silence, Rylan nodded thoughtfully. "I hear you. I just... worry. It's my job as your big brother. And with everything going on— Mom's diagnosis, the dangers you two have faced…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "But you're right. He clearly cares deeply for you. I shouldn't have interfered."

Rhiannon squeezed his hand. "I know you're trying to look out for me. But this is my choice to make. I need you to trust me on this."

"I do trust you," he assured her. "If being with Pierce is what you want, then you have my full support. No matter what happens, I'm here for you. Always."

Rhiannon hugged him tightly, grateful for her brother's unwavering love and loyalty. When she pulled back, she glanced down at her phone again. Pierce hadn't returned her calls, and she wasn't sure if he would. But she knew one thing for certain—she wasn't going to let him go without a fight.

She looked at her brother again. "Can I ask a favor?"