I'm ill, I suffer from an incurable illness. No one knows about this except my doctor and me. According to him, I have about two to three years of my life left. Even though my death from the illness is inevitable, there is hope for a longer lifespan, but it's not a guarantee as I have to wait. I don't intend to tell any of my family about the illness. I didn't want to die away from home, that's why I decided to return home to spend time with my loved ones.
But.
Coming back from London was something Kiara already regretted. Life there had been so much easier, so much better than the mess she faced now back home.
Everything felt unbearably dull with her other sisters absent. Beat kept herself busy most of the time, and without Kayla or Sadie around, there was no one to make the chaos fun.
This place practically dripped with disorder. She was fighting her own body for control, dealing with Edward, and, as if that wasn't enough, she was now entangled with a man who, after kicking her out of her house, went on to propose marriage to her.
The thought of running back to London crossed her mind, leaving all this chaos behind, but for how long? Running away wouldn't fix anything. She had no choice but to face it all.
At least three days had passed without encountering either of the two men she loathed so much.
No. That was an exaggeration. Yes, she hated Edward, but loathing him was rather far-fetched.
Fionn?
Yes.
No.
Kiara's feelings toward him were tangled, a confusing mix of irritation and something else she refused to name. In fact, she only refused to admit it, but she was attracted to him more than she hated him.
Still, the one thing she was certain of was that she didn't want to see him.
The cold water from the shower did its best to calm her frayed nerves. She spent nearly an hour under it, letting it pour over her, doing nothing but existing in that fleeting serenity.
She knew she could catch a cold if she stayed much longer. Already shivering, Kiara finally stepped out of the shower, water dripping down her body and leaving a delicate trail in her wake.
She sank onto the bed, lying flat, not caring that her damp hair soaked the pillow. The pillow could wait; right now, all that mattered was some peace of mind, and this was giving it to her.
Lying there, truly home alone, she didn't think about the many house helpers bustling about. She had nothing to do.
Her dad wasn't home. As CEO of a chain of companies, he rarely had a moment to spare. Her mom was at a charity event, and her big sister, Beat, was often away too.
A dedicated doctor, Beat sometimes even spent nights at the hospital dorms. Every morning when Kiara woke, she found her sister's spot on the gigantic bed empty.
She had come back hoping to spend time with her family, but that hope rarely materialized.
Even when she had a sliver of time, it wasn't enjoyable with her parents; they didn't share her energy.
Beat wasn't much fun either. A no-nonsense woman through and through, she meant business and spared little time for what she considered unnecessary distractions.
Growing up, Beat had been the jovial one of the sisters, full of laughter and mischief, but everything changed the moment she entered medical school.
Both Beat and Kayla had developed a colder demeanor, but Beat's was especially pronounced. Even the family wondered how she managed to connect with her patients.
Kiara and Julie, on the other hand, remained outgoing, talkative, and endlessly friendly, a stark contrast to the quiet reserve of their sisters.
She had to do something, anything, or boredom and loneliness would consume her. After drying her body and hair, she slipped into a simple outfit: baggy jeans, a tank top, and a hoodie. A touch of light makeup later, she stormed out of the room, aimless and restless.
Walking down the hallway toward the stairs, she passed a few house helpers, pausing only to offer a polite nod and smile.
At the parking lot, relief washed over her. Thankfully, she'd learned her lesson and bought herself a car.
With no destination in mind, Kiara let the wind decide her path. Soft, slow music filled the car as she sank into the seat, gliding through the city streets like she was on an endless driving test.
Kiara would have continued her aimless drive if her gaze hadn't landed on the old lady.
Not very old, maybe middle-aged, late fifties or early sixties. Kiara couldn't say why the woman caught her attention, but something told her she needed help.
Parking just ahead of the bench where the woman sat, Kiara approached, curiosity rising. The woman wore chef's attire, perhaps from a nearby restaurant. What puzzled Kiara most, though, was seeing her alone and crying.
"Excuse me… are you alright?" Kiara asked.
Her throat tightened at the sight of the woman's tears. She sniffed, struggling to hold back her own.
The woman looked up, eyes glistening, but offered a warm smile. "Are you crying?" she asked.
"No… I'm not," Kiara replied.
She was completely unaware of the tears already threatening her own composure.
"Come sit with me," the woman said, handing Kiara a tissue, one Kiara clearly expected the woman to use herself. Kiara accepted it, wiping her tears before settling beside the lady on the bench.
"I lost my baby, but don't worry, someone has gone to look for him," she said.
Kiara didn't know the pain of losing a child, but seeing it reflected in the woman's eyes made her chest ache.
They introduced each other and talked for a while. Kiara felt a quiet satisfaction when she managed to bring a small smile to Belinda's face.
Belinda opened up further, sharing more about her life. She owned a restaurant just a block away. Her family had moved to Glasgow, but she had chosen to stay behind, unwilling to leave her restaurant.
Her baby, the one she had just lost, was, as Kiara later discovered, a dog. That little companion had been the only family she had left.
Kiara knew there wasn't much she could do. The best she could offer was her presence, keeping Belinda company until whoever had gone to find her boy returned.
20 minutes earlier
Searching for Belinda's boy had nearly become a part of Fionn's daily routine. Every visit to her restaurant meant another trip to track down the dog. Hoofers got lost often, and it tested his patience.
He had just arrived, barely changed into his cooking attire, when Belinda came running toward him, just like always. "Fionn… Fionn," she cried, voice trembling. He didn't wait for her to finish; he already knew what she wanted.
Stepping out of the changing room, Fionn led the way, Belinda following close behind. They moved a block away from the restaurant, and he instructed her to wait at the bench by the roadside.
Luckily, he knew where the dog usually wandered. Hoofers was lonely, and Belinda was always busy and gave him little attention.
Fionn had tried repeatedly to convince her to get the dog a companion, not once, not twice, not even thrice, but countless times. She never listened.
He reached the spot about ten blocks away, where Hoofers was already playing with other dogs. The little dog always ran there.
If Hoofers hadn't been the only family Belinda claimed to have, Fionn might have left him there the first time he found him playing, three months ago.
The dog's excitement was immediate; the moment it spotted Fionn, it bolted toward him. He knelt, scooping it into his arms, returning its affection effortlessly.
The walk to and from usually took about fifteen minutes. Part of him was already beginning to worry about Belinda. She had remained seated alone, and knowing her, she wouldn't return to the restaurant until she saw her boy safely back.
But when he reached the bench where he had left her, a smile crept across his face. Belinda wasn't alone. Kiara sat beside her, and the two seemed completely at ease, as if they had known each other for years.