Y/N's POV
The gentle hum of the car and the rhythmic movement of the ride had lulled me into a deep sleep. I didn't even realize we had arrived until I felt a soft tap against my cheek. Slowly, I blinked my eyes open, adjusting to the light. Emma's excited face was the first thing I saw.
Emma: "We're here!" she announced, her voice full of energy.
Still groggy, I rubbed my eyes and stretched before stepping out of the car. The journey had been long, and exhaustion still clung to my body. Without saying much, I made my way to my room, eager to freshen up.
After taking a long, refreshing bath, I slipped into something comfortable—a loose sweater and soft sweatpants. The moment I sat on my bed, thinking about taking a quick nap, the door creaked open. Emma peeked inside before stepping in.
Emma: "Y/N, someone's asking for you."
Her words immediately caught my attention. I frowned in confusion. "Who?"
She simply shrugged, offering no further details. My curiosity piqued, and I sighed, getting up to see who it was.
As I stepped into the living room, my eyes landed on two familiar figures sitting on the couch—Kay and Max.
Max leaned back with a smirk, arms crossed. "So, you're a doctor, huh?" he said, addressing Kay.
Kay gave a polite nod. "Yes, nice to meet you."
At that moment, they both noticed my presence. Kay immediately stood up, his expression shifting to one of concern.
Kay: "Hey, Y/N. I haven't seen you in the last few days, so I just wanted to check if you were doing okay."
I offered him a small smile, appreciating the concern. "Thanks, Kay. I'm fine—just been really busy with office work, that's all."
Kay studied me for a moment before nodding. "I see. Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Max and Emma." Then, he turned toward me with a more serious expression. "Y/N, let's go. I need to talk to you."
His sudden request made me hesitate, but something about his tone made it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer. "O-okay," I mumbled, following him outside.
As we walked toward the elevator, I felt his gaze on me. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke.
Kay: "Are you sure you're okay? You look a little sick."
I let out a small sigh. "I'm fine, really. I just haven't been sleeping well these past few days."
His expression darkened slightly. "Oh… If you don't mind, let me check you."
I hesitated for a second but then gave in, knowing he wouldn't stop worrying otherwise. "Ah, okay."
Kay: "Let's go to my grandma's place then. I have my medical bag there."
We entered the elevator, and I suddenly realized something.
"Wait… your grandmother lives here?"
Kay nodded. "Yeah, right upstairs from you. She's not alone, though. One of my nurses stays with her and takes care of her."
I hummed in understanding as we reached the floor. When we stepped into the house, I immediately recognized someone I hadn't expected to see.
A familiar woman turned toward us, a warm smile forming on her lips.
???: "Hey, Y/N, right?"
I blinked in surprise before returning the smile. "You must be Aunt Brittany."
She chuckled. "The world is so small, my dear."
I nodded. "Indeed."
Kay glanced between us, clearly confused. "Wait, you two know each other?"
I smiled softly. "Yes, she was one of my regular customers back when I worked at the café."
Aunt Brittany sighed with a touch of nostalgia. "Yes, but unfortunately, that café closed down."
I nodded. "Yeah, it was a shame."
Kay, still curious, turned to me. "So, where are you working now?"
"At CS Company," I replied, and both of them nodded in understanding.
Kay: "Alright, sit down. Let me check you first."
I obediently sat on the couch as he took out his medical equipment.
Aunt Brittany looked at me with concern. "Are you okay, my child?"
Kay answered before I could. "She's fine, Aunt. I'm just checking her vitals to be sure."
She nodded. "Alright then, I'll take Grandma's medicine to her while you check on Y/N."
Kay focused on examining me, checking my blood pressure and listening to my breathing. His brows furrowed slightly before he looked up at me.
Kay: "Have you been feeling any anxiety or… depression?"*
I hesitated, biting my lip. "I-I don't know…"
Sensing my unease, he placed a reassuring hand over mine. "It's okay. Just make sure to take this medicine if you feel weak, alright?"
I nodded, feeling oddly comforted by his presence. After chatting with Aunt Brittany and Kay for a while, I eventually left and returned to Emma's place.
The moment I stepped inside, Emma turned to me with a knowing look.
Emma: "So… where were you?"**
I hesitated for a brief second before replying. "Nothing serious. Kay's just a friend, and I went with him to see his grandmother."
It wasn't a total lie, but I left out a few details.
Emma shrugged. "Alright. Hey, we're going to the store to grab some groceries. Do you want to come?"
I shook my head. "No, I'm going to meet Kayden."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't question it. "Okay, suit yourself."
Grabbing my purse and phone, I headed outside. As soon as I got into a taxi, I called Mr. Ben.
"Ah, Uncle Ben, can you send me Mr. Scott's address?"
His voice came through the line, slightly concerned. "Sure, Y/N. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, nothing serious," I assured him before hanging up.
A few moments later, I received the address via text. Telling the taxi driver the location, I leaned back in my seat, lost in thought.
I have to meet him face to face.
After several minutes, the car pulled up in front of a large villa. It looked similar to Mr. Annoying's place, yet there were subtle differences. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out, my heart pounding.
As I approached the door, I reached out to press the bell—but before I could, the door swung open.
I froze. My breath hitched in shock.
Standing in the doorway was someone I never expected to see.
Cassie.
James's girlfriend.