Somewhere in Chicago
Mrs. Rohee Quin stood nervously outside the surgery room, her heart pounding. Her husband, Jeremy, was undergoing a heart transplant—a procedure she prayed would give him a second chance at life. The fear was overwhelming. She couldn't imagine a life without him.
As she paced the hallway, her thoughts wandered to her daughter, Becca. A wave of gratitude washed over her. Becca had turned their family's life around. The moment she transferred the money, everything changed. The debts that once weighed them down were gone. She paid for the surgery, bought their dream home—a lovely duplex nestled in a quiet, secure estate—and even covered UCLA admission forms for the twins, Azuka and Azula. Her children's futures were secure now, all thanks to Becca.
Rohee pulled out her sleek new Samsung phone and quickly dialed Becca's number, needing to hear her daughter's voice—needing her comfort.
"The number dialed is out of reach. Please try again later."
She sighed heavily, slipping the phone back into her bag just as Azuka and Azula approached her.
"Mum, what's wrong?" Azula asked, noticing her tears.
Rohee rushed toward them and wrapped them in a trembling hug. "Your father… the surgery just started. I'm scared… I don't know what to do…"
"It's okay, Mum," Azula said softly, holding her. "Daddy's strong. He'll pull through."
Rohee's heart softened at her daughter's words. She took a deep breath and finally noticed the large brown envelope in Azuka's hand.
"What's that?" she asked, wiping her eyes.
"Don't worry about this right now," Azuka said gently. "We'll share the good news later. Let's just keep praying for Dad, okay?"
Rohee nodded, pulling them close again.
---
Chen Mansion
Xavier and Becca walked quietly toward the car, the driver opening the door as they approached. They slid into the back seat, and a heavy silence filled the space between them. Becca was fidgety—her heart wasn't at ease.
She kept thinking about her father's surgery. It could be today… or tomorrow. She needed to hear her mother's voice, to make sure everything was okay. Xavier noticed her discomfort. Sweat dotted her forehead, and her gaze was distant.
"Penny for your thoughts," he teased with a mischievous smirk.
Becca hesitated, then gathered the courage to speak. "Please… can I contact my family? My dad… he's supposed to undergo surgery. I really need to speak with my mum."
Xavier's playful demeanor softened. He knew what it was like to have someone you love fighting for their life. He didn't say anything at first, just nodded solemnly.
"Yes, you can," he finally said. "But remember my rules—don't mention anything about us."
Relief flooded her face. "Thank you so much," she said and, without thinking, hugged him tightly. Realizing her boldness, she quickly straightened up, flustered. "Sorry…"
Xavier just smiled, shaking his head slightly as she pulled out her phone and dialed.
"Hello? Mum? How's it going?" she asked, voice tight with emotion.
"Oh, finally! Your number wasn't going through," Rohee said, her voice filled with relief. "He's already in the theatre."
"Hey, big sis!" the twins chimed in from the background.
Becca's heart lifted. "Hey there, troublemakers! How are you two doing?"
"We're fine," Azula giggled. "We've actually got good news for you!"
"Hmmm… spill it," Becca said, smiling for the first time that day.
"Not until Dad completes his mission," they replied in unison.
Becca laughed softly. "Alright, alright. You win."
They chatted a little longer, exchanging love and laughter before she finally hung up. Becca leaned back in the seat, a soft smile on her face.
Xavier watched her in silence, struck by how connected she was to her family. Her laughter was genuine, her heart clearly tethered to the people she loved. For the first time in a while, he found himself smiling without realizing it.