Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Blinking groggily, Nadine found herself slumped on the cool tile floor of the bathroom, her back pressed against the wall. She must have fallen asleep after last night's breakdown. Groaning softly, she pushed herself upright, her muscles stiff and aching. The remnants of her tears still clung to her skin, and the faint smell of vomit lingered in the air. Ignoring the wave of nausea threatening to rise again, she shuffled to the sink and splashed cold water on her face.

Her reflection in the mirror was a harsh sight—swollen eyes, pallid complexion, and disheveled hair. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her.

Reaching for her phone, she saw numerous missed calls from Lia. Ever since Nadine had returned to Korea, they'd made it a habit to wish each other good night. Guilt gnawed at her as she tapped to return the call, but before it could connect, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Nadine! Open up! Are you awake?"

Recognizing her brother Liam's voice, she made her way to the door, dragging her feet. She opened it just enough to peek out, her voice groggy. "What is it, Liam?"

Liam grinned down at her, seemingly unfazed by her appearance. "Get dressed. I've got a surprise for you."

Nadine blinked, trying to process his words through the fog in her head. "Surprise? Liam, I'm not feeling great," she admitted, her voice hoarse. "I think I'll just stay in today."

The grin faltered, replaced by concern as he stepped closer, studying her face. "You don't look so good. Are you sick?"

"I'm fine," she said quickly, brushing off his worry. But Liam's skeptical expression made her relent. "Okay, maybe I'm a little under the weather, but I'll be fine with some rest."

Liam frowned, his disappointment evident. "It's okay. Rest up. The surprise can wait," he said, though his tone betrayed how much he had been looking forward to it.

Guilt tugged at Nadine's chest. She hated letting him down, especially when he was always so thoughtful. "Give me thirty minutes," she said with a sigh, forcing a small smile. "I'll get ready."

Liam's face lit up again. "Alright. Thirty minutes," he agreed, stepping back to give her space.

Exactly thirty minutes later, Nadine descended the stairs, her steps slower than usual. She had put on a light dress and brushed her hair, but the effort of getting ready left her feeling drained. At the dining table, she found Liam sitting with his wife, Risa, who was sipping coffee and scrolling through her phone.

"There she is," Liam said cheerfully. "Do you want to grab a bite before we go?"

Nadine shook her head, offering a faint smile. "I'm not really hungry."

Risa looked up sharply, her brows knitting together in concern. "Nadine, you can't go out on an empty stomach. At least drink some juice and eat something light."

Not wanting to argue, Nadine reluctantly poured herself a glass of orange juice and nibbled at a small piece of pancake. The sweetness stuck in her throat, making her stomach churn, but she forced herself to finish it.

Risa's worried gaze lingered on her. She had spent enough time with Nadine last summer to notice the patterns—the skipped meals, the feigned excuses, and the unsettling incidents she pretended never happened. But for now, she stayed quiet, filing away her concern for another time.

The car ride was quiet, save for Liam's attempts at making conversation. Nadine responded when necessary, but her answers were clipped, her head throbbing with every passing second. She leaned her head against the window, the cool glass offering some relief.

"You okay back there?" Liam asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.

"Just tired," she mumbled, closing her eyes. "Wake me when we get there."

Beside her, Risa's worried gaze flicked to Nadine's flushed face. She placed the back of her hand against Nadine's forehead, her frown deepening. "You feel warm. Are you sure you're not coming down with something?"

Nadine opened her eyes briefly, brushing off Risa's hand. "I'm fine," she insisted, her voice firm. "I'll go to the doctor later if it gets worse. Let's just get to where we're going."

Liam glanced back at her, concern flashing in his eyes, but he didn't push the issue. "Alright. But if you're still like this later, we're going straight to the hospital."

Nadine nodded faintly, closing her eyes again.

When they arrived, Risa gently shook Nadine awake. Nadine blinked groggily, the ache in her head persisting as she stepped out of the car. She looked around, frowning at the sight of the empty shop lot in front of her.

"What is this place?" she asked, turning to Liam.

"Surprise!" Liam said, his grin wide as he handed her a small set of keys.

Confused, Nadine stared at the keys before looking back at him. "Liam, what—"

"Remember when you asked me to help you find a place for your business? Well, I found this shop lot. It's a great area for a startup, so…" He shrugged, his grin turning sheepish. "I bought it for you. Consider it my welcome gift."

Nadine's breath caught in her throat, her emotions overwhelming her as she clutched the keys tightly. She turned to him, her eyes glassy. "You… you did this for me?"

Liam pulled her into a tight hug, his tone soft. "Of course. Anything for you."

Risa joined the hug, wrapping her arms around both of them. Nadine leaned into their warmth, her earlier exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

Sometimes, she thought, it was the love of those around her that gave her the strength to keep going. And in that moment, she felt like she could conquer anything.