Glass Hearts [BL]-Chapter 236: Saturday Is for Family

Ash’s POV

Alia finally stopped interrogating the twins about why identical humans exist.... for now.

She pointed dramatically at Jasper and Casper.

"So if you look exactly the same... how do people know which one is which?"

Jasper leaned back dramatically. "They don’t. Sometimes I wake up as Casper and it ruins my entire day."

Alia’s eyes flew wide.

"So you switch bodies?"

Casper groaned. Jasper nodded solemnly. "Yeah. If I oversleep, I just send him to school. They never notice."

Alia slapped her hands on her cheeks. "Ash, I want one too! Then I won’t go to school every day!"

I snorted. "That’s not how twins work, baby."

She crossed her arms. "It should work like that."

Before she could file a complaint to God about failed twin policy, she asked:

"So why didn’t Dom come with us today? Saturday is for family."

My heart clenched. "He’s... handling something."

Jasper jumped in way too fast. "Which is why today....you get two drivers."

"Yay!" she cheered.

"Payment is five biscuits each," he said completely serious.

"Six," Alia bargained. "I’m feeling generous."

"That’s my girl," I muttered.

They were getting along dangerously well, especially considering she’d already called Jasper Casper like five times.

"So," I asked, steering the conversation away from the giant Dominic-shaped worry in my chest, "how was the sleepover?"

Her entire face lit up. "It was soooo fun! Violet’s mom made pancakes with cream and chocolate sprinkles. And we watched Moana but I cried because her grandma died and then I cried again when Moana came back for her family."

She ran out of breath, panting happily.

I smiled, even though the words hurt.

Good things always reminded her of Mom. "Mom will make you pancakes again when she wakes up, okay?" I told her, quietly.

She nodded fiercely. "Yeah. She promised. And she never lies."

Before that ache could spread too far, she continued, "And...and they have a dog named Marshmallow."

I looked ahead quickly so she wouldn’t see my eyes getting shiny.

But she wasn’t done.

"And Violet’s brother is Annoying. He kept pulling my ponytails. He is a criminal. And he steals snacks. I hope he falls into a puddle and ruins his white sneakers."

I blinked. "How old is this violent offender?"

She counted on her fingers. "Ten."

Jasper gasped. "A bad boy? Alia has a crush."

"I DO NOT! Violet told me to stay away from him!"

"Awww, so cute," Jasper whispered to me, wiggling his brows.

Alia kicked the back of his seat. "Take it back, CASPER!"

"It’s JASPER, tiny menace!"

I actually laughed , and for a moment...

Life didn’t feel like it was trying to choke me.

For a minute, everything felt okay.

No hospital rooms.

Just Alia’s giggles,

the twins bickering,

the car moving forward.

I held onto that moment so tightly.

Because I knew peace like this...

never lasts long.

I stared at my phone again, with that worried look.

Still nothing from Dominic.

My chest tightened.

Did he fix it with his dad?

Would he even tell me if he didn’t?l

I sighed, closing my eyes.

"Hey," Jasper said gently, catching my eyes in the rear-view mirror. "He’ll text. That guy would rather lose a limb than lose you."

I tried to smile. "Yeah. Maybe."

He changed the subject too fast, like he could feel the panic leaking out of me.

"So... you said your mom wakes up soon?"

I nodded. "She’s in a coma for now. But the surgery went well. They said she’s stable and... she’ll wake up soon."

Casper nodded. "She will. Amen. Just don’t loose that hope."

I chuckled. "I won’t. Amen."

Jasper, half asleep beside him, mumbled, "Cas is the religious one. He will pray for her when we get home. You don’t have to worry."

"I heard that," Cas shot back.

And then...

my phone rang.

Dominic’s name lit up the screen.

My heart stopped, restarted, and then sprinted.

I fumbled the answer button. "Dom! Hey..are you okay? What did..."

But there was no voice.

Just... breathing.

"Dom?" My voice cracked. "You’re scaring me. Please say something. Did something happen?"

Another shaky breath.

And then...

The call ended.

No words.

Just... gone.

I stared at the screen.

"Did he hang up?" Jasper twisted around.

I nodded.

He forced a grin. "Don’t worry. Probably a butt dial. Happens all the time. Especially to weak men in love."

I wanted to laugh. But my chest felt like tight

Then...

a message popped up:

I love you so much, Ash. I’m sorry. Please don’t ask why.

My heart dropped so fast it made me dizzy.

That wasn’t busy.

That wasn’t later.

That wasn’t I’ll call you soon.

That felt like goodbye.

"This is not a butt dial..." I whispered before I could stop myself.

Alia leaned forward. "Ash? What’s wrong? You look scared."

I blinked fast, forcing air back into my lungs. "N..nothing honey. I’m fine. It’s..."

Jasper and Casper could see right through me.

"What did he say?" Cas asked, parking at the hospital.

"I don’t know," I breathed. "He called... and then he hung up. I’ll keep trying to reach him."

Jas nodded. "Good. And we’ll call him too. We’ll let you know the moment he picks up."

He turned to Alia.

"Alright, tiny human. We’re leaving. But next time, I’m bringing snacks. So many snacks you’ll have to build a second stomach."

She giggled. "Yay! Tell Dominic I miss him," she added, pouting.

"Will do, Boss," Jasper saluted.

They drove off as we waved.

And then... it was just me and my terror again.

Right there in the hospital parking lot, I tried Dom again.

Straight to voicemail.

So I texted:

Please just tell me you’re okay.

What was that message about?

I love you too.

Please... answer me.

My fingers hovered.

I stared at the phone like I could force it to ring.

Please ring.

Please.

Please.

Because it suddenly felt like something in my world was slipping away...