Andre said, “She is probably in class.”
Mia glanced at her phone, taking in the chat history with her bestie. Every time, Molly responded late into the night, and sometimes she would reply after a long time.
“She’ll finish her classes soon. If Leo shows up and Molly doesn’t, then something really isn’t right. Babe, I have faith in our friendship. If I’m about to give birth, Molly would be worried and come to be with me, unless something has happened to her.”
Andre looked at his little wife, who was brimming with love and confidence, and couldn’t help but feel happy for her.
Sure enough, at six o’clock, Leo and Anya showed up, but there was no sign of Molly.
Andre noticed too. “Leo, where’s your Aunt?”
Leo said, “I have something to tell you.”
His serious tone immediately put the couple on edge. Mia asked, “What is it?”
Leo sank onto the couch, looking worried. “Coleen has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Molly has been with Coleen these past few days. Just now, Anya and I went downstairs to get an update. Coleen’s surgery is the day after tomorrow.”
Mia, on hearing this, impulsively threw off her blanket and got out of bed. She went over to Leo and Anya. “When did this happen? Why didn’t you two kids tell us earlier?”
“We only found out yesterday. Molly took today off to be with her mother. Anya and I were worried, so we went to the 13th floor to inquire.”
Mia frowned. “Right in my building?”
Leo nodded.
Mia exchanged a look with her husband, whose brows knitted together in concern.
Leo added, “Molly didn’t want you to worry, especially with your due date approaching. But I thought about it last night. Not only should our family know, but we should also visit Coleen.”
Leo added again, “The Byrne family has done a lot for the Cedillo family, so we must go.”
Andre looked at his nephew, who seemed to have grown up overnight, and felt a wave of pride.
Mia impulsively said, “I’m going to find Molly downstairs. I need to be with her.”
Andre got up, blocking his wife’s path immediately. “Let’s wait for dad and Naomi to arrive. Then we all go together.”
The worry in Mia’s eyes increased. “I knew something must have happened to Molly. Why didn’t she tell us? It’s better to share the burden than to bear it all alone.”
Leo said, “She was worried about you too.”
They worried about each other, and they cared for each other.
Soon, the Cedillo family received the news and in the evening, they all rushed to the hospital. They didn’t linger in Mia’s room, but headed straight to the 13th floor.
The Byrne family was all there, trying to comfort Coleen. Seeing the Cedillo family, they were taken aback.
Chad stepped forward and greeted Hansen, “Mr. Cedillo, what brings you here?”
Molly got up from her chair. “Hello guys.”
Mia, with a big belly, went to Molly. “You kept such a big thing from us.”
Molly glanced at her nephew who was hiding in the corner. “Stinky Leo.”
Leo, holding Anya’s hand, turned his back to Molly.
Naomi and Coleen, both in their forties, sat together, chatting.
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