On the other side of town, no one could figure out why Valerie was grinning like she'd won the lottery. She bounced on her brother's bed, completely lost in her own world, gushing aloud about her admirer. Her feet tapped a relentless boom, boom, boom on the wooden frame.
"Will you please stop that, Valerie?" Kane groaned, flopping over and smothering his head under a pillow.
Valerie ignored him completely, humming along to her own excitement. Kane's patience snapped.
"Mum! Come here and warn your darling daughter, or I swear I'll throw her out of the room!" His voice bounced off the walls, equal parts pleading and threat.
Some time later, Mama Cruz appeared, leaning on the doorframe, her gaze taking in the scene. Kane had curled up under the bedsheet, clutching it in a spooned position, trying to disappear from sight.
Valerie had dozed off, the iPad dangling loosely from her hands, one leg flopping off the bed like a sleepy jellyfish. Mama Cruz swooped in just in time to catch it before it could hit the floor.
The moment she saw the picture on the screen, she froze. One step back, a chair for support, a hand over her mouth,her eyes practically popped out of her head. "This… this is unbelievable!" she muttered, staring again with misty eyes, as if the photo had revealed a shocking secret.
Morning came, and Mama Cruz was still sprawled on the sofa in the children's room, clutching the phone like it was a lifeline.
"Mmmm…" Kane stretched, letting out a massive yawn. He nudged Valerie, who mumbled and blinked sleepily.
"Mom looks really tired. Let's go make breakfast," Kane whispered. Valerie rubbed her eyes and yawned, trailing behind him like a reluctant shadow.
Tiptoeing into the kitchen, Kane started making tea while Valerie popped bread into the toaster.
"Grab cups and plates from the cabinet, and get the milk from the fridge," Kane ordered, trying to sound authoritative.
"All right!" Valerie chirped, bouncing off to do the chores. But before she returned, a mysterious fog began creeping through the kitchen. Smoke! The toaster had gone rogue.
"Cough! Cough!" both kids started hacking, waving their hands frantically. Mama Cruz, drawn by the smoke signal, rushed in and immediately joined the coughing chorus.
"Out! Out! This smoke is terrible for you!" she shouted, shooing them away and heroically shutting off the rebellious toaster.
Once the air cleared, they sneaked back in, a little singed but laughing at their chaotic start to the day. Breakfast never tasted so victorious.
"Valerie, where did you meet this lady?" Mama Cruz asked, holding up the picture Valerie had taken yesterday.
Kane craned his neck to see it and the moment he caught sight of the photo, he let out a loud scream. "What?!" he shouted, eyes wide in shock.
"That's… my role model," Valerie said, her voice full of admiration.
Kane froze. "Isn't that… my sister, Kendra?" he asked, incredulous.
Valerie tilted her head, confused. "Who's Kendra?" she asked but the question was left unanswered.
Meanwhile, Sunshine had dressed neatly and was on her way to the airport with Lettie to meet Hansen. As they chatted, Sunshine suddenly leaned against the car, wincing as a sharp pain stabbed her abdomen.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" Lettie asked, bending slightly to study her face, worry written all over her features.
"I'm fine, Lettie," Sunshine forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "Really, don't worry."
"Are you sure, ma'am?" Lettie pressed, concern deepening.
Sunshine nodded, taking a small sip of water. "Yeah… I think I'll be okay if I just drink some water."
Lettie handed her the bottle, and Sunshine felt a brief moment of relief as she drank.
"Huh… I'm relieved," Lettie said, her tension easing slightly.
But before they could take a step toward the lift, a sudden wave of nausea hit Sunshine.
"Brrr…" she muttered, bending over and rushing to the washroom.
Lettie hurried after her, but Sunshine waved her back. "Stay here… I don't want you to lose touch with Hansen," she insisted, leaving Lettie standing helplessly near the entrance.
Inside, Sunshine barely made it to the sink, vomiting and then washing her face and mouth thoroughly under the running water.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" she muttered to herself, panic and frustration mingling in her voice.
Meanwhile, outside, Lettie's boss and two other men approached. She lifted the board with her Hansen's name written clearly for them to see.
"Hey, Lettie, where is your mistress?" Hansen asked, scanning the area with impatience.
Lettie swallowed nervously, glancing toward the washroom door. "She… she'll be out in a moment, sir," she replied, trying to sound confident despite the situation. Hansen raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"A moment? She's your mistress, Lettie. How long does it take to get here?"
Before Lettie could answer, Sunshine emerged from the washroom, slightly pale but determined. She straightened her outfit as best she could and forced a reassuring smile.
"I'm here," she said, her voice steady despite the lingering nausea.
Hansen's expression softened slightly, though he still looked concerned. "Sunshine… are you alright? You don't look so well."
"I'm fine, really," Sunshine insisted, taking a deep breath. "Just a little dizzy, that's all." She glanced at Lettie, who gave a subtle thumbs-up from the side, silently urging her to stay composed.
Hansen nodded slowly. "Alright… let's get moving, then. We don't have all day."
As they walked toward the car, Sunshine kept her steps measured, her hand lightly pressing against her stomach. Every small bump in the pavement reminded her of the sharp pain she'd felt moments ago, but she refused to let it show.
Lettie trailed slightly behind, keeping a careful watch on her mistress, ready to intervene if the nausea returned. Sunshine's determination to maintain composure impressed her boss, but inside, Sunshine silently promised herself she would figure out what was happening to her soon.
All this while, Ivan's eyes were wide open as he watched Sunshine. He blinked rapidly and even pinched himself, hoping to wake from what he thought was a dream.
But when he opened them again, he saw the lady being carried by Hansen as he rushed her toward the car.
"Miss! Wake up! Please, wake up!" Ivan heard Lettie calling, running desperately after them.
"Let's go, buddy," the man Ivan had come with tapped him sharply on the shoulder, bringing him back to reality.
"Alright," Ivan muttered, shaking off his daze, and they followed with their car.
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Sunshine was already being wheeled toward the ward by the nurses. Ivan watched helplessly as she disappeared into the building before he could catch up.
"Lettie, tell them to leave. I'll take care of the rest," Hansen said, tapping his leg, his face buried in his hands.
"Alright, sir," Lettie replied, passing along the message. Within moments, the two gentlemen who had accompanied them approached Hansen.
"Mr. Gray, we received your message. If this is what you want, that's fine. Everything will be alright," Ivan assured him.
"Stay strong," added the other man, offering a supportive nod before they left.
As they departed, Ivan's mind was still racing. Who exactly was Hansen's girl? He shrugged and moved forward, determination in his steps, but curiosity gnawed at him relentlessly.
Sunshine was guided into the ward, the crisp hospital air doing little to ease the lingering nausea. The nurses wheeled her toward an empty bed, speaking softly to reassure her as she tried to keep her composure.
"I'm fine," she murmured, forcing a smile, though her hand pressed lightly against her abdomen betrayed the lingering pain.
Lettie stayed close, adjusting Sunshine's blanket and smoothing her hair. "You need to rest, ma'am. Just lie down for a moment," she urged gently.
Sunshine nodded, letting herself sink into the bed. Every sharp pang reminded her that something wasn't right, but she refused to show fear. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the sterile walls and the faint hum of medical equipment.
"Let me handle things here," she said softly to Lettie. "I don't want to worry Hansen or anyone else." Lettie hesitated but nodded. "Alright, ma'am. I'll be right outside if you need me."
Sunshine exhaled slowly and closed her eyes, trying to focus on steadying her breathing. She knew she couldn't stay weak for long, there were still so many steps ahead, and she had to be ready to face them.
For the moment, the ward was quiet except for the soft beeps of the monitors. Sunshine's thoughts wandered, questioning the sudden pain and her body's strange reactions, but determination burned beneath her calm exterior.
She whispered to herself, almost like a promise: "I'll get through this… no matter what."The she passed out again.