The phone buzzed relentlessly on the table until Leia finally picked it up.
"Hello?" she answered in a cautious tone.
"Leia, it’s , Lucien’s grandmother," ca Azalea’s voice.
"Ah, good afternoon, Grandma. How are you?" Leia asked politely, then tilted her head in mild confusion. "Wait... how did you get my number? I’m sure I never gave it to you."
"That doesn’t matter right now," Azalea replied, brushing the question aside. "Can you see today?"
"Today? Out of the blue?" Leia frowned, suspicion tugging at her expression.
"I have sothing important to discuss with you," Azalea said. "You may not trust yet... but this is a matter you can’t ignore."
"Grandma, if it’s an urgent matter shouldn’t you ask your grandson to co instead of ?" Leia inquired. "Besides, Lucien doesn’t let go out anywhere. You must be aware of that."
"Lucien isn’t in the house at the mont," Azalea asserted.
"You know so much even when you are afar," Leia stated. "I can’t co to see you. Lucien will yell at if he finds out or he may even kick out. I don’t have anywhere to go."
"Leia, you’ve always been smart. The first ti I laid my eyes on you I knew you were an arrogant brat," Azalea said angrily. "If anything happens to , then you’ll be responsible for it. Keep it in mind."
"Wait, Grandma!" Leia said. "What would happen to you? Where are you?" she inquired.
"Why do you even care?" Azalea snapped at her and ended the call.
Leia furrowed her brows together, feeling a sudden unease in her chest. She decided to call and dialed Lucien’s number. Biting her nails in nervousness, she paced her room, waiting for the call to be answered.
"Yes, Leia?" Lucien’s voice ca from the other side.
"When will you be ho?" Leia questioned.
"Why? What happened?" Lucien quickly rose from the chair. He signalled at the waiter, who approached the table with a bill pad in his hand. Draven saw a troubled look on his Alpha’s face.
"Your grandmother called," Leia began. "She insisted I et her about an important matter. I think you need to check on her."
Lucien’s brows furrowed. "How did my grandmother get your number? And where did she ask you to et her?"
Before Leia could respond, the waiter approached with the bill. Draven quickly settled it, and the two n rose from their seats, heading toward the exit.
"I don’t know," Leia admitted. "But she sounded... troubled. You should call her and see what’s going on."
Lucien gave a thoughtful hum. "Thanks for telling ."
He ended the call with Leia and imdiately dialed his grandmother’s number. To his surprise, Azalea didn’t pick up.
"Why isn’t she answering?" he muttered under his breath, a faint edge of worry creeping into his tone.
Draven pulled the car up to the curb and gestured for him to get in, but Lucien held up a hand.
"Wait a mont." He again redialed his grandmother’s number, hoping this ti she would answer.
"Hello," Azalea’s voice finally ca through the line.
"Grandma, what happened?" Lucien asked without preamble.
"You decided to call only after I spoke to Leia?" Azalea scoffed. "You truly don’t care for this old woman, do you?" Her tone dripped with disappointnt.
"Grandma, just tell what’s going on," Lucien urged, already pulling open the car door. "You know exactly why I haven’t called you all this ti." He slid into the seat and fastened his belt as Draven started the engine.
"I’m dying," Azalea said.
Lucien froze, his hand tightening around the phone. "What? Don’t joke about sothing like that, Grandma. I’m not in the mood for gas."
"Why would I lie?" Her voice didn’t waver. "I have a terminal illness. I’m in the hospital. The doctor says I have only two months left to live."
Lucien was shocked to learn that.
"In which hospital?" he asked, forcing himself to stay composed.
"Health Star Hospital," she replied.
"I’ll be there shortly."
The call ended and he glanced at Draven. "Drive to the Health Star Hospital."
"Why, Alpha?" Draven confusedly inquired as he turned the car’s direction.
"Grandma is sick. She got a terminal illness," Lucien replied. He then inford his brothers to co to the hospital and lowered the phone to his lap.
"Everything will be fine, Alpha," Draven assured him, driving as hurriedly as he could.
~~~~
"Leia, I’m going to the hospital," Kieran announced as he suddenly stepped into her room.
She shot up from the chair, alarm flashing in her eyes. "Hospital? Why? What happened?" Her heart was already pounding.
"Grandma’s been admitted," Kieran said gravely. "Lucien just called . We’ll probably get there by evening... and after that, you can stay at Rhea’s house."
"I’m coming with you," Leia said without hesitation as she quickly reached the cupboard to take out a purse. She kept her mobile in it and turned to him.
"Are you sure?" Kieran asked, searching her face.
"Of course. Let’s go," Leia replied without a second thought.
They hurried outside and climbed into the car waiting in the foyer. Kieran gripped the wheel while his thoughts circled around the sa fear.
"I can’t shake this feeling," he muttered. "I should’ve tried harder to convince Lucien to speak with Grandma."
"He was just angry," Leia tried to reassure him.
Kieran exhaled sharply, eyes fixed on the road. "No... It’s more than that. When Lucien called , his voice sounded steady, but there was an underlying tension. I just... I just pray nothing serious has happened to her."
Leia looked at him with a concerned expression. ’It all happened because of . I was the one because of whom Lucien drove your grandmother out of the mansion. How can I be such a person?’
~~~~
In the hospital, Lucien went straight to the ward, where his grandmother was admitted. He saw her lying on the hospital bed, nurses doing their work.
"Grandma!" Lucien was at her side in an instant, wrapping his arms around her with a force that betrayed his fear. "I’m sorry," he murmured against her shoulder. "How could this happen to you? I’ll get you the best treatnt, no one can—"
He broke off as Azalea’s hand ca up, gently patting his back.
"Lucien, what I told you on the phone was the truth," she said softly.
Lucien slowly pulled away, his gaze darting to the nurses nearby. "Where’s Aunt?" he asked.
"She is talking to the doctor," Azalea replied. Her eyes softened as she studied his face. "I’m sorry for pushing you toward a woman of my choosing. I’ve heard the rumors... it turns out Leia is your fated mate. Not only yours, but your brothers’ as well." She paused, her frail fingers tightening over his hand. "Before I go, I hope to see you all get married to Leia. That’s my final wish."
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