Arrrgh! One more chapter before the epilogue, you guys! Hbjihddidgwvwndjdbdghfj:-!
I'm stoked. If you've read this far, thank you! Thank you for reading my book. Thank you for all the votes. Thank you for your comments. It means so much more than you can ever know. *pecks you*

The blinding light from the blinds caused Shanya to wince as she sat upon what looked like a hospital bed. But it was the sickening smell of medicine and air repellent that made her moan. Damn hospitals. She'd spent enough time in them to know she despised them. Hence the wonder why she'd ever want to study medicine. But she knew the answer to that before that thought was over. Her dad. When he'd gotten sick, she'd been helpless to stop the pain she witnessed every day of those miserable four weeks in the hospital. He'd needed her and although she was there for him in all the ways that mattered, she hadn't been what he needed. What his body needed.

Still, being back in a hospital brought back all those painful memories. The sickness that hung in the air, the melancholic vibe, and the depression on people's faces was no picnic. Worse, the doctors wasted no time to probe needles up their—

Her eyes widened as recent events made their way through the barrels of her mind. Heather. The fight. Brain death. Muscle spasms.

She wriggled her toes, it moved. Her brain was working well if her previous thoughts were any proof. And she obviously wasn't dead. But if everything was okay and sundry, why was she in a hospital bed?

The door opened just then, causing Shanya to jump. A petite brunette nurse swept in with a smile, notepad in hand. She didn't look more than Shanya's age. But Shanya still kept a considerable distance from her position on the bed.

"Good morning, Shanya. How do you feel?" Her voice was light and squeaky.

Shanya let her eyes drop to the nametag on her left breast.

"Fine, Rachel. Thank you."

Rachel smiled, revealing a slight gap between her front teeth. She set the notepad on the table and advanced towards Shanya, a light probe in hand. Her hands were warm and soft to the touch as she checked Shanya's vitals and temperature.

Shanya waited until she was done. "How long have I been out?"

"A few days," Rachel replied, sticking the equipment in her pockets and then writing what Shanya assumed to be observations in her white notepad. "And can I just say, you have a wonderful family. They never left your side. Especially your charming fiancee."

Shanya was still trying to grasp the "few days" part. All must not be well if she'd been here for that long. "Am I - "she cleared her throat, afraid to know the answer. "Am I okay?"

Rachel stopped writing, and it was the warm smile in her eyes that caused Shanya to breathe a little easier than she did.

"I'm not permitted to reveal that information or the details, that's Doctor Ernest's job. But I will say you've got nothing to worry about. The strychnine didn't cause long-lasting damages. This is just a precaution."

Shanya exhaled slightly, a weight in her shoulders lifting. "Thank you, Rachel."

Rachel nodded and Shanya added, "What was that you were saying about my family and a certain charming gentleman?"

Rachel blushed deeply, and Shanya giggled.

"They're outside waiting in the hall right now, shall I get them?"

She shook her head. "Just get Lily Harris, please."

With a nod, Rachel exited the room, leaving Shanya with nothing but her thoughts. She leaned against the metal headboard and brought the covers up to her waist.

Seconds later, the door flung open to reveal a disheveled Lily who just stood at the entrance with a yellow maxi dress and a pair of brown sandals, staring at her.

"Oh my God," was all she said as she practically ran over to the bed and embraced her friend so hard, Shanya winced. But she hugged her back with the same vigor.

The cold, wet state of Lily's face caused Shanya to pull her friend back. Sure enough, Lily's face was tear-streaked, her mascara all but ruined across her face.

"You've been crying."

"Oh, shut up," Lily snapped as she brushed at her eyes. "I'm simply upset about all the stuff I'm not going to inherit anymore because of your miraculous recovery. I was especially looking forward to that red dress you wore at the engagement."

Shanya laughed. "I miss you too."

"Can you imagine those fools didn't want to let me in because 'I wasn't family'?" She huffed. "If it wasn't for your gorgeous fiancee, I would have been stranded outside. Even though I've known you the longest and should be the first in line. Hospitals are stupid."

At this point, Shanya felt sorry for the nurse or whoever it was that had told Lily that. Lily's wrath was like none other. Worse than hers to some extent.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked, sniffing a little.

Shanya reached for her hand and squeezed tightly. "Yes. It'll take more than a crazy jealous girlfriend to end me."

"Damn straight."

Shanya sat up straighter. "Who else is out there? I don't think I'm up for teary-eyed people. Emotional distress is not my scene."

"Uh...just people you know," Lily quipped, eyes downcast. She was obviously hiding something, but the light returned to Lily's eyes a second later and she smiled. "Paris was here every day. Would not leave. Travis had to bring his necessities here. It was nauseating, really."

Her heart skipped a little, but it wasn't because she was pleased to hear that.

"Is Heather in this hospital?"

Lily made a face. "I don't give a rat's ass where that bitch is."

She did. Because it would mean Paris hadn't just stayed here for her. It would mean he'd wanted to make sure he could keep an eye on Heather too.

A warm hand touched her cheek and she blinked, looking up at the understanding eyes of her best friend. "Travis said Paris ran to you first."

When Shanya frowned in confusion, she continued. "You and Heather were both lying unconscious on the ground and his first instinct was to get to you first."

Before Shanya could react to that, more people filed into the room. Shanya let her eyes travel to each worried face. Paris—her heart swelled significantly at the sight of him, Travis, her brother, and her mother. Her mum.

She blinked. No wonder Lily had been schtum earlier.

Lily threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "I said give me ten minutes!"

Chicago ignored her and rushed towards Shanya, forcing Lily to give way.

"I could have ridden a bull longer than it took ya'll to wait," Lily was mumbling as she grudgingly got up and allowed Chicago to sit on her abandoned spot.

"I leave you for two days and look what's happened," her brother clipped.

Shanya ignored him. "What's mum doing here?"

Her brother gave her a stern look, making his handsome features all the more attractive. From his appearance, Shanya assumed he'd just left his office.

"She's worried about you. Like any mother would."

Shanya scoffed, eyeing her mother. "I don't want her here."

"Well then, it's a good thing we're not doing what you want. Your fiancee called me and I told mum. It seems he's the one with the sense in this relationship." His lips tugged at the side as he leaned in and whispered, "Mum likes him, y'know."

Shanya said nothing, and Chicago awkwardly kissed her forehead. "I'm happy you're alive."

She gave him a small smile as he got up and walked over to where everyone else stood. He whispered something to them and suddenly everyone started filing out of the room.

Everyone except her mother.

Her brother mouthed "behave" before closing the door behind him.

This should be interesting.

An uncomfortable silence settled in as her mum walked towards her slowly and stood beside her bed, hands clasped in front of her as if fighting the urge to touch her. She was dressed in a simple blouse and flapped jeans, and she looked much younger than Shanya remembered.

How long had it been since she'd last seen her, nine months?

"Anywhere hurtin', baby?"

She sounded the same. Sure, cautious, and very motherly. A part of Shanya missed hearing her voice. "No, Ma. Nothing hurts."

Her mum nodded and looked around the hospital. "Brings back memories, doesn't it?"

Shanya remained tight-lipped, not trusting herself to comment on that. Her dad had seen less of her mum since he'd been admitted. Twice a week, as she recalled.

"I got you candies by the way," her mum said, clearing her throat as she dove into her bag. 'Now I'm not sure you should be having them presently, but I know they'll cheer you up."

"Where's Dwight," Shanya asked offhandedly. Her mum stopped rifling through her bag. With precision, she withdrew her hand and looked at Shanya, not with reproach but with sensitivity.

"He's in the waiting room."

She nodded tautly, but said nothing else. Leaning her weight back on the headboard. Her mother let her hand drop to her sides.

"He wanted to see you, but I said—"

"He doesn't need to. He's not my father."

There was a calm, almost awry silence that followed. "Your dad wasn't perfect, you know."

Shanya scoffed. "Really, mom? Cheating on him wasn't enough, you want to sully his memory too? He's already gone. You won."

"Yet he's the reason we don't get along."

"No, the reason we don't get along is because you're a selfish woman, a liar, and a cheat. The scandal you caused ruined our family."

She stopped, willing herself to stay calm. She was being a hypocrite. What her mum had done wasn't really different from what she was doing now. And even though she hated the act her mum had committed, she could understand it. Almost.

"Did it have to be my principal, Mum? Did it?"

Her mother stared at her with that same sensitivity in her eyes as she sat down, the bed dipping a little under her weight. It was then that Shanya noticed other subtle differences in her mother. Her face was lighter now, open. Her complexion, brighter and more alive. Then again it may just be because she hadn't seen her in almost a year.

"There's something I've never told you, Rosie. Something your brother insisted that I not tell you. Something about your father."

Shanya folded her arms cautiously. Every time her mum called her Rosie, she knew she was about to hear something unpleasant.

"What about him."

"We... We both had our busy lives, but he was busier and I stayed at home a lot. Dean... um.. your dad, he prioritized his work over us. You were so young then, you wouldn't remember. But Michael does." She paused, her fingers moving to tuck a loose strand of her straight black weave. From this position, Shanya saw their uncanny resemblance.

"He left his phone home one day so I went into his office to give it to him and he was - he was..." Her mum shook her head as if shaking off the memory, "Your dad had an affair first, Shanya Rose."

The air around her seemed to stop providing oxygen. Why was her mum such a goddamn liar?

"Are you so self-righteous that you'll defile the memory I have of him by spawning up such lies?"

"I've never lied to you, baby. Omitted, yes. But never lied."

Shanya stared at her mum. They had been close once before and in all that time, her mother hadn't told a lie, at least not one she could remember. So if what she said was true...

"No. You're lying. He loved you. He'd never do that."

Her mum only nodded, the resigned nature of that nod showed the truth she couldn't bring herself to accept.

"Why- why didn't you tell me?"

"Did you not listen to your first sentence when I told you? You held him in such high regards baby, I didn't want to ruin that for you. Also, your brother insisted."

It was so like Chicago to shield her from what he thought would hurt her. But here and now, she couldn't fault him for that. She knew in her heart she would've done the same if the situation were reversed. To spare him from this... knowledge.

"I loved him, Shanya Rose," her mum went on, "I did. And I thought - I thought I'd come to forgive him for his betrayal, but I just got angrier and bitter as the days went by and eventually, there was just no love left in me to give him."

But you had enough for another. Shanya bit her lip, her eyes looking downwards.

"He still loved you."

Her mum simply nodded, licking her bottom lip. The rich brown of her eyes swelled with emotions. "We were a year younger than you when we met. Did I ever tell you that?"

"No, but dad told me." Shanya smiled as she remembered her dad on his sofa around the fire, telling her stories to keep her entertained. "Apparently, being nineteen then was a lot more fun."

"It was."

"Do you miss him?"

"Sometimes."

She was glad for her mother's honesty even though it pricked something in her gut. All these years, she'd banished her mum, hung that affair over her head, and kept her at arm's length. Hated her mother for all the pain she'd caused her dad. Now she knew it wasn't just pain her dad suffered from. It was guilt.

"You remind me so much of him. I guess - I guess that's why I just couldn't vibe with you the way I did with Michael. We have nothing in common, baby."

A small burden lifted off of Shanya's shoulders just then and she sighed.

"A minute ago, I would have agreed with you, but you're wrong. You and I are two peas in a pod. We're both unforgiving."

Her mum laughed half-heartedly. "Oh, baby."

She finally reached her hands out and cradled her daughter in her arms, kissing her cheeks and her hair. She smelt of jasmine and Dove, and Shanya welcomed the familiar scent as she hugged her mum back. Something snapped into place, but she couldn't tell what.

Her mum drew her back. "Now, tell me all about your white man. He's fine as hell."

Shanya chuckled, willing to oblige. Her relationship with her mum was far from mended, but this was a start.

A/n: For every vote given, a daughter is reunited with their mother^_^