Urgent Call! Is My Brother Okay?

Why am I so hesitant?

I really wanted this but I'm scared!

The envelope trembled in her hands as sweat beamed from her forehead.The envelope quivered in her trembling hands, and rivulets of sweat trickled down her forehead, glistening in the dim light as her heart raced with anticipation.

I am just one step away from finding my parents....

The phone rang incessantly, its sharp tones cutting through the tranquility of the room. This time, it piqued her interest, for the caller ID displayed a familiar number that felt oddly foreign. With a furrowed brow and a racing heart, she picked up the device and answered, "Hello?" Her voice was laced with confusion.

On the other end, a woman's voice crackled through, steeped in urgency and barely contained panic. "This is the hospital. I need to confirm—are you the guardian of Hideaki Anderson?"

"Yes! That's me," she responded, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I'm Kaelynnee Marie Anderson. I signed as his guardian when I turned eighteen." A wave of dread washed over her, and her heart ached with uncertainty. "Is everything alright with my older brother, Hideaki? Has he finally woken up from his vegetative state? Is he calling for me?" Hope flickered within her, each syllable imbued with a longing for better news.

"Miss Anderson, this is not something we can discuss over the phone." The voice was steady, yet the underlying urgency was unmistakable. "The doctor would like to speak with you in person. Can you come to the hospital right now?"

"I'm on my way," she replied, her stomach in knots as she hung up the phone. She tossed the crumpled envelope down onto the bed, its contents forgotten in her rush. In a flurry of movements, she slid on her jacket, a protective layer against the world outside, and dashed out of her apartment. In her haste, she didn't even notice that she was barefoot, the cool floor beneath her feet a distant memory.

As she burst into the hallway, she spotted the chauffeur waiting by the entrance. "Excuse me, could you please take me to the hospital? It's very important—I need to see my brother," she urged, desperation threading through her voice.

"Of course, Madam," the chauffeur replied, his demeanor calm and respectful, as if sensing the gravity of her situation. Without another word, Kaelynnee climbed into the car, her heart racing as they sped away, the city blurring past her as she clung to the hope that the news awaiting her would not be as dire as she feared.

That's weird, why is he calling me that?

"Could you please hurry and get me to the hospital? It's urgent," she implored, her voice laced with anxiety as she sat in the backseat, her gaze fixated on the screen of her phone, fingers tapping nervously. A whirlwind of heavy thoughts engulfed her mind, swirling around the image of her brother lying in a hospital bed, and the ominous weight of the doctor's request for a personal conversation sparked a whirlwind of worry within her.

"Certainly, Madam," the chauffeur replied, his tone neutral as he maneuvered the vehicle with precision through the bustling city streets.

Why with that name again?

The term 'Madam' struck her as peculiar; this was the second time he had referred to her this way, and she couldn't quite grasp the reason behind it. Perhaps it was a matter of formality, but for now, those thoughts faded into the background, overshadowed by the urgency of the moment and the anxiety that clung to her like a shadow.

I wish to reach out to Kyosuke Nakmaru, but I recognize that he has a lot on his plate. I don't want to add to his burdens with my issues! He has already done so much for me, and I'm uncertain if I could ever truly repay his kindness.

As the luxurious vehicle rolled to a stop at the bustling intersection, a man clad in a tailored suit stepped out, exuding an air of confidence and authority. Kaelynnee's heart raced as she recognized Kyosuke Nakamaru, the man she had entered into a contract marriage with. Under different circumstances, she might have felt a surge of happiness at seeing him, but today was far from ordinary. A wave of emotions washed over her—anxiety, fear, and an overwhelming urge to keep her vulnerability hidden. She couldn't let him see her like this, especially not with her brother's condition hanging in the balance.

"What are you doing!? I said the hospital!" she shouted at the chauffeur, frustration lacing her voice.

Kyosuke's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with her emotional turmoil as he interjected coolly, "They do not work for you; they work for me. Anything that seems out of the ordinary will be reported to me." His tone was authoritative, yet there was a hint of concern in his gaze.

Kaelynnee felt her patience thin. She didn't have time for a petty argument; her brother's health was the only thing that mattered. "You know what? I'm leaving! I don't care if I have to walk to the hospital to see my brother. It's clearly none of your business!" she retorted, her voice rising in desperation.

To her surprise, he reached out, grabbing her wrist firmly but gently, pulling her back toward the soft leather seat of the car. "Take us there," he ordered the chauffeur, who, without hesitation, nodded in acknowledgement via the rearview mirror.

The ride to the hospital passed in silence, the tension thick between them. Kaelynnee's mind raced, her thoughts drowning in anxiety as she thought of Hideaki. As soon as the vehicle halted at a red traffic light outside the hospital, she wasted no time—flinging the door open, she leapt out and sprinted down the crowded street. Her heart pounded in her chest as she dashed through the busy traffic, narrowly avoiding cars, until she finally burst through the glass doors of the hospital.

Out of breath and frantic, she approached the reception clerk, her voice urgent yet clear. "I'm here to speak with the doctor about the patient Hideaki Anderson. I'm Kaelynnee Marie Anderson, his one and only guardian," she declared, presenting her identification card, her hands trembling slightly with adrenaline.

"Ah, we've been expecting you, Miss Anderson. Please, follow me this way," the clerk replied with a reassuring smile, guiding her down the sterile, fluorescent-lit hallway, leading her towards the answers she desperately sought.