Secrets

26: Lonely & Cold Nights

Kaleah’s POV…

“Leah, it's crucial that you seek medical attention," Anna insists, stepping out of the bathroom with a small bin and a warm washcloth in her hands. "You've been enduring relentless bouts of vomiting and struggling to retain any food for an entire week."

I dismiss her concerns with a wave of my hand. "It's just stress and perhaps a minor cold," I retort, taking the items from her grasp.

Anna's voice grows stern as she issues a warning. "If you don't show any signs of improvement by tomorrow morning, I will personally escort you to the hospital, even if I have to hog-tie you."

Rolling my eyes, I respond, "The doctor will only tell me that it's a minor cold and advise me to rest and stay hydrated."

A mischievous smirk dances across Anna's face. "Well, at least we'll have peace of mind knowing it's nothing serious."

"Anna, I'm telling you once and for all, I'm perfectly fine and I'm not going to the hospital!”

"You're going! I'll call Nico and let him know about your condition if that's what it takes to ensure you receive proper care. Because let me tell you, sis, ginger ale and saltine crackers just won't cut it."

"Alright, I'll go to the doctor tomorrow if I'm not feeling any better. Just please, don't mention anything to Nico," I stuttered, my voice filled with hesitation.

"Why don't you want him to know that you're not feeling well? You know he would take care of you better than I ever could."

I hesitated for a moment, crafting a lie to shield the truth. "I don't want him to stress over me when he's already dealing with so much chaos at work." It pained me to utter those words, knowing deep down that the real reason was something I couldn't bear to admit. The truth was that Nico and I had broken up, and the mere thought of acknowledging it made my heart ache and tears well up in my eyes once again.

"You've been feeding me that same excuse for three days straight, and I'm not buying it anymore," Anna retorts firmly. "Now, tell me the truth about what's really going on between the two of you!"

I let out a sigh, feeling a throbbing headache intensify. "Nothing is going on between us," I lie once again, desperately trying to avoid the painful reality.

"If that's truly the case, then call him," Anna insists, snatching my cell phone from the nightstand and handing it to me.

"I don't need to call him just to prove something to you..." I begin to protest, but my words are cut short as Kara peeks her head into my room. "Nico is downstairs in the living room, waiting to talk to you.” 

As soon as his name is mentioned, my heart skips a beat, and a bittersweet smile tugs at my lips. But the smile fades just as quickly as it appeared, as the painful truth resurfaces in my mind. He had betrayed me, cheating with his cousin's wife. "Tell him I'll be down in a minute," I respond, my voice turning cold and distant.

Anna narrows her eyes, sensing the disconnect between my words and my emotions. "It doesn't seem like you're excited to see the man you claim you can't get enough of. Now, tell me the truth. What's really going on between you two?" she demands, her arms folded across her chest, her gaze unwavering.