One Day 60

Chapter Sixty 

Ava’s POV 

“Mmmm… Ba baaaa… baaa…” 

I glanced over my shoulder at Zareon, who was seated on the bed, legs wide apart as he babbled a couple of nonsensical phrases that only made sense to him. His tiny yet chubby fingers tugged at the edge of the towel draped around his waist, pulling at it like it had personally offended him. 

I managed a small smile, folding the last piece of clothing into the suitcase, where every fabric smelled faintly of lemon detergent and the heat from the dryer I had used earlier. 

“You’re such a nitpicker,” I murmured, more to myself than to him. “Just like your dad.” 

The smile faded the second the words left my mouth. I hated how often my thoughts circled back to Kyle. It hasn’t even been 24 hours since we got here, and I can’t help my mind from circling back to him. It’s the house. I blame the house and his damn father. 

Shaking it off, I firmly zipped the suitcase closed, then set it down on the floor next to the 

bed. 

After Harold’s unexpected and audacious visit, I immediately called Phoenix, who first cursed and ranted about how audacious and cruel the Banks are, then calmed down and reassured me it was going to be fine. It amazed me how easily she could shift moods. I guess she’s more of an adult than I am. 

We spent half the night talking, sharing voice notes, and discussing what to do and what not to do, even though she didn’t give me any specific advice. She told me it was my decision. However, to assist me, she even messaged one of her doctor friends, who gave a detailed response outlining everything about bone marrow transplants, especially in young kids like 

Zareon. 

It was then I learned the transplant wasn’t exactly like a surgery, unlike in the olden days. It didn’t entail slicing or drilling. It was more like extracting blood with a needle from the pelvic bone under anesthesia. But still… 

Zareon is just a child. My child. And the thought of someone drawing anything from him, for someone like Kyle, even though he is his father, made my skin crawl with dread. Especially not after what his family had done. Not after they turned their backs on me when their son had betrayed my trust. 

I had paced for hours during the night after reading everything. I’d stared at Zareon sleeping, 

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+25 Points 

his hand covering his face and his lips curled in a pout, trying to decide what to do. Phoenix had told me not to let Harold’s words get to me. Instead, she told me to think deeply and decide for myself. 

And I did just that. I’ve decided to allow Zareon to take the test. 

This wasn’t because of the power of Harold’s manipulative words. Nor was I doing it for Kyle. 

I was doing it because I didn’t want my son to one day grow up with the guilt of knowing he might’ve been able to help save a life, but wasn’t given the chance. It’s precisely what Harold said, but I didn’t want that to happen. 

If Zareon isn’t a match, we will leave. That’s why I packed everything, including our travel documents, ensuring I didn’t leave anything behind when the time comes. But if he is a 

match… 

That’s another decision. 

The buzz at the door pulled me back to the present, and I knew immediately who it was. 

“Mama… Doooorrr,” Zareon said excitedly, his wide, beautiful eyes locked on mine, making my heart do that swelling thing. 

I can’t fail this innocent and beautiful gift. I just hope I’m making the right decisions for him. I hope I don’t end up hurting him with every decision and action I take. 

“Hold on, baby,” I whispered with a smile, reaching for my handbag. Then I scooped him into my arms and moved out of the room toward the door, opening it slightly to reveal Leo, dressed in black and white suit pants. 

I need to speak with the person who decided that bodyguards should always wear black and white outfits. There are so many colors available to mix and match, they don’t have to look broody all the time. 

“Morning, ma’am,” he greeted gently, glancing at Zareon, whose mouth was in an “O” shape while squinting up at him. 

I nodded, then grumbled, “Morning,” before stepping out with Zareon. 

The drive to the hospital was quiet. I didn’t ask questions, and Leo didn’t offer to talk as well. When the car took a turn before we got to the main hospital entrance, I frowned. 

This wasn’t the front entrance. 

“We’re going through the underground,” Leo explained, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. “Reporters are still hanging around. This is more secure.” 

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I didn’t respond. Just hugged Zareon tighter. 

+25 Points 

As the car stopped, two men in suits emerged from the shadowy part of the park. They flanked us as we stepped out, forming a quiet wall while they led us down a long corridor deep within the building that smelled faintly of disinfectant and medicine. The corridor was so quiet, and our boots echoed with each step, so much that Zareon began to squirm, clinging tighter to me, clearly uncomfortable with the change in atmosphere. I pulled him closer, rocking him slightly as I walked, not caring about the people beside me. 

At the end of the hallway, one of the guards pushed open a door and stepped aside for me to enter. It led to another hallway, much brighter and alive with people. We continued walking down the hall until the guards suddenly stopped at a door. 

Leo turned to me. “Mr. Banks is inside. You can go in if you wish to see him first.” 

Which Mr. Banks now? And why would I wish to see any of them? 

But my feet moved closer, just enough for me to look through the narrow glass pane on the 

door. 

Kyle 

My stomach dropped. 

He was seated on the hospital bed, his back resting against the bed plane. A nurse was beside him, adjusting the drip attached to his wrist, and he was watching it like it was filled with poison. 

But that wasn’t why my heart stopped for a moment. 

It was because he looked thinner and paler. His cheeks were hollowed, his eyes dark with fatigue. He looked just like he did years ago, maybe even worse. He looked like he’d been drained of good health. What the hell happened to him? 

And as if he could sense me watching, his head snapped up and his gaze locked with mine. 

He didn’t blink. He just stared, frozen. Even as the nurse said something to him, he didn’t look away. His eyes were wide, like he couldn’t believe I was real. Like I was here, and if he blinked, I’d vanish. 

I scoffed bitterly, 

He looked shocked? He should be. After all the tricks he pulled to get me here… sending his father instead of facing me like a man. Fine, Harold said Kyle wasn’t aware of his visit, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t Kyle’s idea all along. He’d asked to see Zareon for the same reason, so why act shocked now like he couldn’t believe I actually came? 

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Leo leaned in. “Do you want to go in?” 

+25 Points 

“No,” I said immediately, stepping back, the ache in my chest hardening into stone. “Take me to the lab. We’re here for the test, not to visit the sick.” 

Without another glance, I turned and walked away, shifting Zareon slightly on my hip. 

***** 

The test was straightforward. 

The nurse explained the procedure again and again in a gentle voice before the extraction was carried out. She also informed me that the results would be ready in a few hours. 

Zareon didn’t flinch when the blood was drawn, to the surprise of the nurses. My boy is a brave little thing. I was also surprised and a bit worried when he didn’t make a fuss getting his first injection, but I was reassured that some children are just like that. 

Once it was done, I stood up, ready to leave, but Leo approached me cautiously. 

“Mr. Harold is here. He’d like to speak with you.” 

“There’s nothing more to speak about,” I said flatly. “We already did the test, and I’m leaving. My son needs to rest.” 

He nodded in understanding. “I’ll tell him.” 

But fate wasn’t done playing with me yet. 

As we exited the lab and turned the corner toward the private wards, I saw her. 

Lillian. 

She came from the opposite direction, dreessed to the nines with her heels clacking loudly against the floor. The second her eyes locked onto me, she froze mid–step, her expression collapsing into one of shock and disgust. 

“You,” she hissed, voice dripping with venom. Then she stormed forward, all fury and sharp heels hitting the floor. 

“What are you doing here? Did you lose your GPS or something?” 

I didn’t answer. I had no interest in explaining myself to her. I simply adjusted my stance, shifting Zareon’s weight on my hip. 

Her eyes swept over me and Zareon with nothing but disdain. “How did she get in here?” She turned to the guards behind me. “Why is an uninvited guest waltzing through this hospital like 

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she owns the place? Are we just letting anyone walk in now?” 

She was yelling now, making Zareon squirm in my arms, and the guards were visibly uncomfortable, not wanting to upset their boss wife. 

Huh! I mentally scoffed at that. 

+25 Points 

“Lower your claws,” I muttered, slightly bouncing Zareon on my hip. “I’m leaving already.” 

“Leaving?” She scoffed with a bitter laugh. “Oh, I doubt that. You don’t just show up at my husband’s hospital with that child without an agenda.” Her eyes raked over Zareon again, oozing with disdain. Her red lips tilted up in a sneer. Makes me wonder how a woman whose husband is hospitalized has the time to doll up this much. 

“What is it this time?” She continued with disdain. “Trying to sneak your way back into Kyle’s life using that child as bait? Aren’t you tired?” 

I swallowed the fury burning in my throat, biting my tongue to keep myself from snapping back. Zareon stirred slightly on my shoulder, looking too relaxed, a sign he’s getting sleepy. 

“How the hell did you even know where to find him? Who told you?” Then she turned to the guards, arms crossed as she yelled. “How the hell did she get in here?” 

Fed up with her trashy behavior, I looked her in the eye and calmly said, “Your husband did.” 

That shut her up. 

Her gaze snapped back to me, disbelief flashing across her face. “Excuse me?” 

“I didn’t even want to be here,” I said, voice firm and relaxed, enjoying the look on her face. “If I’d known why your husband called me, I wouldn’t have bothered.” I said, intentionally emphasizing the “husband.” 

She blinked, clearly thrown off. 

“That… that’s not true.” 

I shrugged. “Then ask him yourself.” 

Her mouth hung open slightly, stunned. Her rage died down just as quickly as it had risen. For a second, I saw the cracks in her facade, her head spinning from the information. But before she could recover or piece together why I said what I did, I turned on my heel and walked away, guards at my side, with my son, unsurprisingly asleep, with his face tucked into the crook of my neck. 

Behind me, I heard the faintest gasp, like a bubblegum being popped. 

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Good. Let her combust. 

They aren’t the only ones who can cook up some lies.