Falling For The True Heiress

I pushed the car door open and quickly climbed out before heading straight toward the hospital entrance.

Behind me, Camila laughed softly before getting out as well. She locked the car and quickly caught up with me.

The familiar scent of disinfectant filled the air the moment we stepped inside.

Without slowing down, I headed straight for Dad’s room.

When I got there, Mr. Matt was standing outside, speaking quietly on his phone.

The moment he saw me, he bowed slightly.

"Miss."

I returned the gesture with a small nod before reaching for the doorknob.

I took a quiet breath before pushing the door open.

Dad was asleep.

An IV drip was still attached to the back of his hand, while the heart monitor beside him continued its steady rhythm.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

For the first time in days, that sound brought me comfort instead of fear.

Mom was curled up on the sofa by the window, her laptop resting on her lap as she typed quietly.

Hearing the door open, she looked up. The exhaustion on her face was impossible to miss.

"Honey," Mom called out.

"Mom."

I hurried over. A tired smile appeared on her face as she opened her arms.

I walked straight into them. She wrapped her arms around me and gently stroked my hair. For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.

I didn’t realize how much I’d needed that hug until I was already in it.

When I finally pulled away, my eyes drifted to Dad.

"I saw your message," I said quietly.

Mom followed my gaze and nodded. "He woke up."

A small smile touched her lips. "But he’s still very weak."

She glanced toward the hospital bed. "He wasn’t awake for very long."

Her smile softened and she looked back at her laptop. "He just fell asleep again."

I turned to look at Mom and then back at Dad.

His face was still pale. But this time, he was sleeping, not unconscious. A small smile slowly spread across my face.

And somehow, that tiny difference felt like the whole world.

"Camila, dear."

Mom’s voice softened the moment she noticed Camila.

"Auntie, good afternoon," Camila said and walked over with a small smile and crouched beside her.

"How are you, dear?" Mom asked, gently brushing a few strands of hair away from Camila’s face.

"I’m doing well, Auntie."

"I’m glad."

Mom smiled before her eyes drifted to Dad for a moment.

Then she looked back at me. "Where’s Sylvia?"

"She’s coming with Daniela," I replied.

A small frown appeared on Mom’s face.

"Why didn’t she come with you?"

I smiled helplessly. "I only came to see you, Mom. I have to go back for practice."

"Oh." She nodded slowly. "Did you have lunch?"

"I did."

She stared at me for a second, looking unconvinced.

She knew me too well. I had always been making excuses not to eat.

I was always talking about my weight.

"My weight this..."

"My weight that..."

Camila stood up and walked over to the small round table before placing one of the baskets of apples on it.

"I’m leaving now, Mom," I said. "I’ll see you again this evening."

Mom smiled warmly. "Alright, honey. Drive safely."

"I will."

I turned toward the door but stopped after taking a few steps.

Something suddenly came to mind.

"Oh."

I turned back. "You didn’t buy anything from outside, right?"

Mom immediately shook her head.

I smile immediately. That was exactly what I wanted to hear.

"Good."

"Where’s Mr. Clifford?" I asked.

"He went home to get a few things for me," Mom replied.

I nodded thoughtfully.

"When he comes back, tell him to prepare what I asked him for yesterday and bring it this evening."

Mom looked at me curiously. "What did you ask him to prepare?"

"I’ll explain later, Mom." I smiled before turning back toward the door.

"Bye."

I waved without looking back and walked out of the room with Camila.

My eyes drifted to the remaining basket of apples in Camila’s hand as we walked down the corridor.

"Let’s stop by Room 120 first," I said.

Camila nodded without hesitation. "Okay."

She moved closer and slipped her hand into mine. I glanced up at her and smiled.

She returned the smile before we continued walking.

The polished floor reflected the afternoon light pouring in through the windows as I read the room numbers one by one.

116...

117...

118...

119...

Finally.

120...

I stopped outside the room and knocked gently before pushing the door open.

"Nana, I’m he—"

The rest of the words died in my throat as I froze where I stood.

Sitting beside Grandma’s bed was someone I never expected to see.

Dominic.

"Amelia."

Dominic’s face lit up the moment he saw me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked almost immediately.

He frowned.

"I came to visit my grandmother." He looked at me as though the answer were obvious. "What else would I be doing in a hospital?"

I blinked.

"Grandmother?"

My eyes slowly shifted to the woman lying on the bed.

"So... she’s your..."

Before I could finish, Dominic asked,

"What are you doing here?" he asked, standing up from the chair beside the bed.

I didn’t answer right away. I was still trying to process everything.

The sweet old woman I’d helped yesterday...

...was Dominic’s grandmother.

Life really worked in strange ways.

Camila leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"Lia... who is he?"

"I met him at the garden," I whispered back.

"Our garden?" she repeated softly.

Before I could explain—

"Oh, my daughter." The old woman smiled warmly and stretched out her hand.

"Come here."

I finally found my feet and slowly walked over to her bedside.

Camila followed behind me, placing the basket of apples on the bedside table.

Even then, I could still feel her eyes moving between Dominic and me.

Dominic hadn’t stopped smiling.

The old woman looked between the two of us curiously and smiled.

"So..."

"You two know each other?"

Dominic nodded. "Yes, Grandma."

"I met her at that abandoned garden you always tell me about."

I froze.

Wait...

Did he just say...

Her abandoned garden?

I slowly turned toward the old woman. "Nana..." I said carefully.

"That garden..."

"...is yours?"

Both Dominic and the old woman looked at me.

Grandma chuckled softly. "Yes."

"It’s mine."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You mean..."

"That garden belongs to you?"

She nodded with another gentle smile.

My mouth slowly fell open.

Beside me, Camila turned to me so quickly that her eyes went wide.

"Lia..."

"Isn’t that the garden we found when we were little?"

I slowly nodded, still trying to process everything.

I honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or be shocked.

What were the chances?

Of all the people...

How did it end up being Dominic’s grandmother?

Just then—

Buzz!

Buzz!

Buzz!

Camila’s phone vibrated inside her bag, breaking the silence. She quickly took it out and answered the call.

"...Seriously?" She asked, frowning slightly.

"Okay. We’re coming."

She ended the call and looked at me.

I immediately understood what Camila was trying to tell me.

"Nana, we’ll get going now," I said, forcing a small smile.

The old woman nodded gently. "Alright, dear."

"Take care."

Just as I turned to leave, Dominic frowned.

"Wait."

He looked at me curiously. "Why are you calling her Nana?"

His eyes moved between me and his grandmother.

"Is it some kind of nickname the two of you have?"

I smiled faintly and shook my head. "No."

"That’s what I used to call my grandmother too."

For a moment, Dominic didn’t say anything.

Then he nodded.

"Oh. I get it."

I smiled politely. "Bye, Nana."

She waved at me with the same warm smile she’d had since yesterday.

"Bye, dear."

"Come and visit me again."

"I will."

I nodded before turning toward the door.

I had barely taken two steps when—

"Amelia." Dominic’s voice stopped me.

I looked back.

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before smiling.

"Can I have your number?"

I tilted my head, one eyebrow slowly rising as I looked at him.

"...Why?"

Before I could say anything else—

"What do you need her number for?"

Camila asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Dominic immediately looked flustered.

"Uh..."

He scratched the back of his neck and looked away.

For a second, his eyes drifted toward his grandmother. She was watching him with an amused smile.

He quickly looked back at me. "I mean..." He cleared his throat.

"If you come to visit Grandma again... you can let me know how she’s doing."

He nodded to himself as though he’d come up with the perfect excuse.

I blinked.

"Don’t you have legs?" I asked innocently.

"You can come and check on her yourself."

Dominic’s eyes widened. "No, no..."

"You misunderstood."

"I just—"

Before he could finish, the old woman lightly smacked him on the back.

"Oh, stop embarrassing yourself." Her head shook helplessly.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I shook my head.

"Bye then."

I gave the old woman one last smile before turning toward the door.

Camila glanced at Dominic one last time before following after me.

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