Chapter 255
A soft chuckle escapes me. “Well… technically, we’ve only been on one date, but we talk every day, and he told me he wants to build something more with me p>
The sadness and despair on her face vanish, replaced by a huge smile that lights her up.
“Please tell me you’re not lying, just so I can finally leave this Noah mess alone,” she says, excitement already bubbling over.
“I’m not,” I chuckle. “We’re going on our first official date tomorrow p>
And when I say Adrian doesn’t waste time? I mean it. He wanted us to go out today, but I told him I needed to recover from jet lag and spend time with my mom. He didn’t mind at all, so we planned for tomorrow instead.
I should be scared by how fast things are moving, but oddly enough, I’m not. I feel calm, safe and at peace with him.
“Oh my goodness!” Mom practically screeches. “This is the best news I’ve heard in a while… YESSS p>
“Mom—” I try to call, but she’s already too lost in the moment.
“I thought you were going to die alone,” she says dramatically, staring at me with wide eyes. “At one point I even thought that heartbreak from Noah had turned you lesbian or something p>
I burst out laughing. “You’re exaggerating p>
“I kid you not, baby,” she grins. “I had lost all hope. But hallelujah! My baby girl is finally seeing someone. Oh goodness, I need to tell Harper and Ava and p>
“Stop. Right. There,” I cut in. “You can’t tell anyone yet p>
“Why p>
I take a deep breath before answering. “Because I don’t want to jinx it p>
“You’re not going to jinx it p>
“Please,” I insist. “Not until I’m sure it’s heading somewhere p>
She studies me for a long moment, then nods. “Fine, but damn, I’m happy you’re finally giving love a chance p>
She pours herself a drink, that goofy, delighted smile still plastered on her face. She takes one sip. Then another. Then she freezes.
The smile fades as worry creeps into her eyes. “Wait, does he know you’re pregnant? And is he okay with it p>
I give her a gentle smile. “Yes. He knows and he’s okay with it p>
I leave out one small detail. The part where Adrian also happens to be my doctor. That’s information she doesn’t need just yet.
“What if he’s just using you for the thrill of being with a pregnant woman?” she asks.
I pull her into a hug. “I worried about the same thing at first, but after talking to him for a while, I realized he’s genuinely a good guy p>
“B–but p>
I cut in gently. “No buts. You worry too much. Stop overthinking.” I pull back and smile. “Want to see what he looks like p>
She nods, and I grab my phone. I ignore the barrage of messages from my aunts, no doubt fishing for details about the picture with Noah and scroll to Adrian’s name, tapping on his profile picture.
“Here,” I say, handing her the phone.
Honestly, I expect this to distract her because damn, Adrian is hot, but instead of reacting the way I expect, her frown deepens.
“What do you think?” I ask, suddenly nervous.
She looks at me, then back at the picture. “He’s very handsome… but he looks familiar p>
My body stills. If she says he’s some long-lost cousin or something equally unhinged, I might actually lose it.
“Familiar?” I ask carefully. “Have you seen him before p>
“I think so,” she says slowly. “I just can’t remember where. Maybe at the hospital p>
I let out a quiet breath of relief. That would make sense. Mom was a nurse and Adrian is a doctor. It’s entirely possible she’d seen him around.
But then she adds, “I swear, he almost looks like Director Whitmore’s nephew p>
I freeze.
Director Whitmore, the hospital’s director where mom used to work, comes from one of the most influential families in the city.
I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding, forcing myself to calm down. Yes, Adrian is well-off, but that well-off? I doubt it. If he were part of the Whitmore family, I would know. Given I’m very familiar with the Wood family and they literally own this country, that kind of detail wouldn’t have slipped past me… And besides, his last name is Hayes, not Whitmore.
I squeeze Mom’s hand reassuringly. “Don’t you think I’d know if he were a Whitmore? You’re overthinking again, Mom p>
“Maybe I am,” she says, but the way she says it tells me she doesn’t quite believe that.