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Clayton reached out, taking her hand. “She’s getting the best treatment.”
Delia moved to sit beside her, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. “I’m fighting it with everything I have. The doctors are optimistic that I’ll beat it. We caught it early enough. But it’s been… hard.”
Rhiannon’s chest tightened painfully. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We didn’t want to worry you while you were stressed about leaving Japan without a plan. We had planned to tell you when you got home.”
Rhiannon shook her head, her tears blurring her vision again. “You should’ve told me as soon as you found out. I would have been here. You know I would have been here.”
“I know,” her mother whispered and cradled her face in her hands. “But you have your own life, Rhee. And I’m strong. I’m fighting this. I’ll be okay.”
Rhiannon swallowed hard, trying to process everything. Her mother’s strength had always been a source of comfort, but now, it felt like a weight on her chest. She wanted to be strong for her mother, but all she felt was helplessness.
Her mind drifted to Pierce. He was the one she wanted to call, the one who had been her anchor through so much of this nightmare.
She waited until her parents returned to their hotel so her mother could rest, then she pulled out her phone and dialed his number.
It rang once. Twice.
No answer.
She stared at the screen, the pit in her stomach growing. She called again, but it went straight to voicemail. Her heart sank further, and she dropped the phone into her lap.
“Pierce?” Rylan asked quietly.
She nodded, unable to meet his eyes.
“He’s dealing with a lot,” Rylan said after a beat. “But he cares about you, Rhee. I can see that.”
Rhiannon let out a shaky breath, wiping at her eyes. “He’s pulling away. I can feel it.”
Rylan leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. “I gave him a hard time. Told him he needed to walk away.”
“Rylan!” Her stomach tightened. “What did he say?”
“He’s trying to figure out what’s best for you. He’s torn between keeping you close and letting you go because he thinks that’ll keep you safe.”
A bitter laugh escaped her. “He’s doing exactly what you always do. Trying to protect me by shutting me out.”
Rylan’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Maybe. But I’m not sure he’s wrong.”
Rhiannon turned to him, the weight of his words sinking in. “You don’t think we should be together.”
“I didn’t say that,” Rylan corrected, his voice gentle. “What I think is that he loves you, but he’s scared. And maybe… maybe he has good reason to be. Maybe that’s not something you should brush off.”
She scowled at him. ”I love him.”
“I know you do.” Rylan’s eyes softened as he reached out to take her hand.
“I’m not giving up on him. I’m going to be with him with or without your blessing.”
“Rhee, you’ve always had my blessing. I just want you to be happy. I want you to be safe. And it bothers me that Pierce makes you happy but not safe.” He sighed. “But you’re right. You need to make your own decisions. You’re not a little girl anymore, and I trust you to do what’s right for you.”
Rhiannon blinked back fresh tears, her heart swelling with emotion. “For what it’s worth, Pierce has always kept me safe. When he destroyed the core, I thought we were dead. I told him to do it, knowing it would kill us. But the moment he did, he grabbed me and shoved me into an air vent. He’s the reason I’m alive right now.”
After several beats of silence, Rylan nodded thoughtfully. “I hear you. I just... worry. It’s my job as your big brother. And with everything going on— Mom’s diagnosis, the dangers you twohave faced…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “But you’re right. He clearly cares deeply for you. I shouldn’t have interfered.”
Rhiannon squeezed his hand. “I know you’re trying to look out for me. But this is my choice to make. I need you to trust me on this.”
