1. The Beginning.

"Rhys" Nonna calls out, snapping him out of his thoughts. 

He turned away from the window and walked back to the hospital bed where she lay. Rhys had been so lost in thought that he didn't notice when she had woken up. 

He walked to her with concern itching on his face, getting a hold of her fragile hands. 

"Yes," he answered, his eyes softening from the tensed ones he had a while ago. 

"Where is she?" Nonna asked roaming her stare around the room to get a glimpse of her figure but to no avail.

Rhys knew exactly who she was talking about yet he chose to act oblivious hoping she wouldn't ask for his wife; Natalie but who was he kidding?

"Huh?"

"Natalie."

He shakes his head, "She's not here...Uhm, Natalie got caught up with some work--"

She cut him off before he could go any further, "No, please I need to speak with her at least before my time is due--"

"No. Don't say that" Rhys cut her off not liking the words she had just said. 

"My child. I can feel it, it's inevitable and you have tried your best. Any grandmother in my shoes would be proud of the person you've become." She paused gulping down painfully, "Call her for me, I need to speak with her, please"

Rhys stood emotionless but inwardly battling with his feelings that were going haywire. The thought of losing Nonna didn't sit well with him but there was nothing he could do about it not anymore. 

Right from day one Rhys had seen Nonna's medical reports, he knew death was inevitable for her no matter how much he tried to sort things out and work on how to help her, there was no way out. 

Nonna has been an important figure in his life or undercover life; rather, she's more like that grandmother he never got to meet.

"Rhys" Nonna yet again pops his bubble though.

He cleared his throat offering a curt nod before walking out of the room while slipping his hand in the pocket of his sweatpants and pulling out his phone.

Rhys found a corner outside of the hospital that was less crowded dialing on Natalie's number as he impatiently waited for her to pick up.

"Fuck!" He cursed seeing as her phone kept slipping to voicemail. 

He dialed for the tenth time before she finally picked up.

"What is it?" She spat annoyance evident in her tune. 

Rhys Jawline harder, "You need to come to the hospital now," he says trying as much as possible to remain calm and keep down the irritation and annoyance he felt. 

"I'm not in on this now Rhys. I don't have time to entertain your mind games, I'm in a meeting now" She fires back 

Rhys knew she thought that he called her to apologize for the fight they had yesterday night or patch things up but that was his least worry at the moment, he had better things to worry about. 

"Natalie, I'm sending you the address of the hospital now, you need to be here. Nonna needs to speak with you, her health is deteriorating--"

"Oh please. You liar, find a better way to lie next time." She hissed, cutting off the call.

"Natalie!" He semi yelled, roaming his stare around and meeting people's weird glances which irked him more. 

He clutched his phone, heaving out a hiss in annoyance. The fucking hell did she just cut off the call on him?

He rubbed on his temple attempting to call her again but this time her phone was switched off. 

Rhys's anger intensified at her audacity. He can't fathom why Nonna needed to see her when it's clear that Natalie wasn't interested or rather she thought it was one of his mind games. 

Rhys knew that Nonna had always been fond of Natalie for some reason that remains unknown to him and he never bothered to push. 

Rhys is never the one to indulge in personal matters.

He loves Natalie but these past few days, she's been acting all strangely and distant which resulted in the fight they had yesterday night when he confronted her.

He decided to call Natalie one more time but his action was paused when he noticed a group of nurses and the doctor in charge of his Nonna's health ran in panic.

Rhys didn't need to be told twice as he knew she was gone.

Losing Nonna felt like he had lost a huge part of him yet he remained strong cause that was what she would have wanted. 

Nonna had played an important role in his undercover mission to find true love. She's not only been kind to him but has treated him as a grandmother would treat her grandson. 

Rhys doubts if such people exist anymore but Nonna had changed that perspective.

Would she had accepted him for who he is and not what he has if she had known?  Yes, certainly. He's lived with her for too long to know that she isn't a greedy woman. 

Heaving out a sigh, he walked back into the hospital his limbs cold and sore as he dragged his legs to the room.

•••

It's been three days since he lost her and Natalie never bothered to call. Her funeral had taken place immediately after she had passed.

Rhys couldn't reach out to Nonna's family as she's never really spoken to him about them. Nonna found and adopted him when he was only seven for that he'll forever be indebted to her.

"May your soul rest in peace" Rhys says, placing the flower on Nonna's grave. 

He had come to the graveyard a few minutes ago to visit her. Her loss had made him feel lonely and departed from reality almost as though she was alive.

He turned on his shoe to leave but a ring on his phone halted his steps. He paused, huffing out a breath before pulling out his phone.

He was surprised to see Natalie calling.

He slid the answer button. 

"Hello" 

"You should come home now" She ordered, urging Rhys' brows to draw in confusion at her audacity.

Nonna had passed away, the part of his life when he needed her the most to support him and reassure him that just as a wife is supposed to, she's doing otherwise.

"Okay," he answered, not having the zeal to entertain any of her tantrums.

"My parent's house I mean," she says before cutting off the call, not giving him the chance to respond.

Rhys groaned in annoyance at a Mysterious message popping on his home screen which urged him to take a look. 

Just as he clicked on it his eyes fell on the most heartbreaking news he had received this week yet again.

Headline: Natalie Watson and Alec Freeman seem to be winging things. Are they our upcoming celebrity couples?

Attached to it is a photo of Natalie in the arms of another man looking like they had a blast.

No this couldn't be, Natalie would never do something like this to him. 

Rhys grip on his phone tightens his heart burning with a mix of jealousy and betrayal.