Carolina's POV
I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, trying to steady my shaking hands. The little makeup I applied covered my tired eyes.
Another grueling week at the hospital had left me drained, both physically and emotionally and I needed to unwind.
"Lina! Are you ready yet?" Cassie's voice echoed through my small apartment.
I took a deep breath and called back, "Just a minute!"
Giving myself one last look, I smoothed down my dark blue dress and stepped out of the bathroom.
Cassie was sprawled on my couch, scrolling through her phone. She looked up as I entered and whistled.
"Damn, girl! You clean up nice," she grinned, jumping to her feet.
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself."
Cassie twirled, showing off her sparkly red dress. "I know, right? We're gonna turn heads tonight!"
As we headed out, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling in my stomach. It had been ages since I'd gone to a party, let alone a house party thrown by some rich guy in town.
But Cassie was right – I needed this. I needed to unwind, to forget about the stressed patients and long shift hours for just one night.
The party was already in full swing when we arrived. Music pulsed through the air, and the sprawling mansion was packed with people dressed to the nines. Cassie immediately dragged me towards the bar.
"Two tequila shots, please!" she shouted over the music.
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Starting strong, huh?"
She laughed, passing me a shot glass. "Come on, Carolina. Live a little!"
We clinked glasses and downed the shots. The alcohol burned its way down my throat, leaving a warm feeling in its wake. Before I knew it, Cassie had ordered another round.
Soon the drink started taking its action, and everything blurred around me, and I was surrounded by dancing, drinking, and laughter.
For the first time in weeks, I felt the tension melting away from my shoulders. Cassie tugged me to the dancefloor and I let the music carry me, swaying to the beat without a care in the world.
Sooner than later, a lanky blonde man glued to my back. His hands began to roam all over me as I danced, which started to disturb me. I looked over at Cassie but she was oblivious to my distress.
I tried to push him and move away, but he must've thought I needed to go somewhere private because he tugged me away.
When we arrived at a darker place, I was swaying on my feet but I felt the man's lip on my neck. I lifted my hand to push him but my head spinned.
Last thing I believe I heard was a punching and hitting sound before everything went dark.
* * * * * * * * * *
I woke up with a pounding headache and I stared at the ceiling, but my brows creased. Where am I? This wasn't my bedroom.
The unfamiliar scent of cologne filled my nostrils, making my stomach churn. I tried to piece together the events of last night, but my mind was a blank slate.
Slowly, I turned my head to the side. My heart nearly stopped. There, sleeping peacefully, was a man I'd never seen before, even in the dim light, I knew I had never seen him. Panic set in as I realized I was naked under the sheets.
"Oh God, oh God," I whispered, careful not to wake the stranger. I needed to get out of here, fast.
I slid out of bed, wincing as my bare feet touched the cold hardwood floor. My clothes were scattered around the room, an evidence of my reckless night with this stranger.
As quietly as I could, I gathered them, throwing on my wrinkled dress and shoving my underwear into my purse.
The stranger stirred, and I froze midstep. I felt like a thief sneaking around. He mumbled something unintelligible and rolled over. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Once dressed, I tiptoed to the door. My hand was on the knob when I heard his voice, gravelly with sleep.
"Leaving so soon?"
I turned, meeting his gaze. Even in my panicked state, I couldn't help but notice how strongly built he was. Dark hair, defined muscles, smaller waist, but I couldn't make out his face. I swallowed hard.
"I... I have to go," I stammered. "Work."
He raised an eyebrow. "It's Saturday."
Crap. He was right. But then, I was a nurse, so yes I had work. How could I forget? Could it be that he unsettles me so much? "I mean... Yes, I'm a nurse. My shifts soon. Can't be late."
Without another word, I bolted out the door and hailed a cab. It wasn't until I was halfway home that I realized I still didn't have my shoes.
* * *
The hospital was bustling as usual when I arrived for my shift. I had gone home, showered, and changed into fresh clothes, but I still felt off-kilter.
I kept trying to remember how and when I ran into that man last night, but found out nothing? Did he kidnap me?
"There you are!" Cassie's voice made me jump. She appeared at my side, grinning from ear to ear. "So, how was your night?"
I pulled her into an empty exam room, shutting the door behind us. "Cassie, where did you go last night?" I asked her.
Her brow furrowed in mock anger. "Hey don't give me that, you left first! I checked everywhere and couldn't find you... So I left..." She informed me.
I took a deep breath, releasing her arm. "I think I did something really stupid." I whispered, looking down.
She began searching my face, showing concern. "What did you do?" She inquired.
"I think I had a one-night-stand, because I woke up in a stranger's bed," I told her what I remember.
Cassie mouthed a 'wow' clearly stunned.
Then she cleared her throat and asked. "Okay how did it feel... Was it...?"
I shook my head quickly. "Look, I don't know. I don't remember anything. I'm scared, Cass. I can't believe I did that. I've never had a one-night stand before, you know."
"I understand you feel terrible but these things happen," Cassie said, rubbing my back. "Did you use protection?"
My stomach dropped. "I... I don't know. I can't remember."
Then I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Oh God! What was I thinking?"
"Okay, don't panic," Cassie said, though she looked worried. "We'll get you a morning-after pill, just to be safe. I've got some in my locker."
I nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Cassie. You're the best."
She grinned, nudging me playfully. "That's what best friends are for. Now, was he at least hot?"
I shot her a glare. "How can you be thinking about that when I'm in this condition?" I creased my brows at her.
Then she laughed, and I couldn't help but join her. For a moment, I felt a little better. But as I swallowed the pill Cassie gave me, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had fundamentally changed. I just didn't know what yet.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of patients and paperwork. I threw myself into my work, trying to push away my effort to try to remember anything.
By the time my shift ended, I was exhausted but feeling more like myself.
As we were changing out of my scrubs, me and Cass, my phone buzzed with a text. I pulled it out, only to freeze when I saw the message.
"Carolina, we need you to come home right away. It's important. - Mom"
I frowned, showing Cassie the message.
"That's weird," she said. "Your mom never texts like that."
A sense of unease settled over me. "Yeah, I know. I should probably go see what's up."
Cassie nodded. "Want me to come with you?"
I shook my head. "No, it's okay. I'll call you afterwards and let you know what's going on."
With shaking hands, I replied that I was on my way, hugged Cassie goodbye and dashed out of the hospital.
**************
The drive to my parents' house felt longer than usual. My mind raced with possibilities, each worse than the last.
Has something happened to one of them? Was there a family emergency? The uncertainty gnawed at me, making my stomach churn.
I pulled into the driveway of the modest suburban home where I'd grown up. The sight of it usually filled me with warmth and nostalgia, but today it only increased my anxiety.
Taking a deep breath, I got out of the car and walked to the front door.
Before I could even knock, the door swung open. My mom stood there, her face a mask of worry and... was that guilt?
"Carolina, honey, come in," she said, her voice strained.
I stepped inside, the familiar scent of home doing little to calm my nerves. "Mom, what's going on? Is everyone okay?"
She didn't answer, just led me to the living room where my dad was waiting. He was sitting in his favorite armchair, looking more serious than I'd ever seen him.
"Sit down, sweetheart," he said, gesturing to the couch.
I sank onto the cushions, my heart pounding. "You're scaring me. What's happening?"
My parents exchanged a look that made my blood run cold. Finally, my dad spoke.
"Carolina, there's something we need to tell you. Something we should have told you a long time ago."
I gripped the edge of the couch, bracing myself. "What is it?"
My mom reached out and took my hand. "Carolina, there's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to come out with it. We're not your biological parents."
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. I stared at them, sure I had misheard. "What? What are you talking about?"
"We adopted you when you were a baby," my dad explained, his voice gentle but firm. "Your real parents... they're the Granville family in New York."
I pulled my hand away from my mom's, standing up abruptly. "This isn't funny. If this is some kind of joke...?"
"It's not a joke, Carolina," my mom said, tears in her eyes. "We've loved you as our own from the moment we got you, and were reluctant in telling but... we didn't know the Granvilles would demand you sooner."
I shook my head, backing away from them. "No. No, this can't be true. I'm Carolina Ambers. I'm your daughter. I've always been your daughter!"
But even as I said it, I realized I looked not an inch like them. The Ambers had red hair and were fat.
My dad stood up, reaching out to me. "You are our daughter, in every way that matters. But the Granvilles... they're your birth family. And they want to meet you."
I felt like I couldn't breathe. The room was spinning, and I grabbed onto the back of a chair to steady myself. "Why now? Why after all these years?"
My parents looked at each other again, but they were as lost as me.
"These are questions they only can answer," my dad said carefully. "But you can't stop a family from wanting their daughter back. So they're coming for you in a few days. They want you to go to New York."
I laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Go to New York? Just like that? Leave my whole life behind for people I've never met?"
"We know it's a lot to take in," my mom said, her voice pleading. "But please, try to understand. Know that we're always here when you need us."
"Then I need you now!" I commanded.
Another exchanged glance. My dad sighed. "And we are here. Take a few days, compose yourself and get ready..." He comforted me.
But I only I felt like I was drowning, gasping for air in a sea of confusion. Without another word, I turned and ran out of the house, ignoring my parents' calls behind me.
I took a cab back to my apartment, tears blurring my vision. I buried my face in my hands. This was too much. First the one-night stand, now this? What else could possibly happen?
When I got into my room, I laid on my back and looked at the ceiling before calling Cassie. My hands shook as I dialed her number.
"Hey," she answered. "How did it go with your parents?"
"Cass," I said, my voice breaking. "You're not going to believe this." I began before I told her everything. She listened in shocked silence.
"Wow Lina! That's just wow!" she said when I finished. "I don't even know what to say.."
"Tell me it's not real," I pleaded. "Tell me I'm going to wake up and this will all be a bad dream."
"I wish I could. But hey, listen to me." She waited for a moment. "No matter what, you're still you. You're still Carolina, my best friend, the amazing nurse who helps patients every day. Nothing can change that."
I took a shuddering breath. "But everything has changed, Cassie. My whole life feels like a lie."
"Not a lie," she said firmly. "Just... more complicated than we thought. But we'll figure it out together, okay?"
I nodded, grateful beyond words for her friendship. "What do I do now? They said the Granvilles are coming in a few days. That they want me to go to New York."
Cassie was quiet for a moment, thinking. "Well, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "Part of me wants to refuse to see them, to pretend none of this is happening. But another part..."
"Is curious?" Cassie finished for me.
I nodded. "Yeah. I mean, they're my birth family. Don't I owe it to myself to at least meet them? To find out why they gave me up?"
"I think you do," Cassie said gently. "But whatever you decide, I've got your back. If you want me to go all 'protective best friend' on these Granville people, just say the word."
That got a watery laugh out of me. "Thanks, Cassie. I don't know what I'd do without you."
After that, we ended the call, and I felt a bit steadier, and a little more prepared to face whatever was coming.