Wedding My Ex's Uncle (Kaia and Alden) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54 Grandma’s Gone

Lucien scanned the updated articles, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips.

He shot Frank a message: [Well done. Double your year-end bonus.]

Frank replied with a smile: [Thank you, Mr. Graves. Just doing my job.]

*****

That evening, Luna stared at the trending news link Kimberly had sent her, her blood boiling. In a fit of rage, she hurled her phone across the room.

She was convinced Kaia had bought the headlines to smear her

name.

Zane, too, saw the trending stories and tried to have them taken down, but they wouldn’t budge.

He furrowed his brow, puzzled.

Could Kaia be behind this?

No way she has that kind of pull. Not even her father could manage it.

Kaia had spent the entire day running errands and had no time or energy to even glance at the online chaos.

After wrapping up her errands, she went straight to the bank and applied for a mortgage loan.

The bank offered up to a million dollars at a 3.85% interest rate, which she calculated she could handle. Without hesitation, she told the manager to start the paperwork.

The approval process would take a week, but with the loan and her savings, Kaia was confident she could cover Claire’s medical bills, nursing care, and nutritional supplements for a year.

She had no intention of relying on Tobias for a single dime.

If she worked hard and earned enough, she believed she and Claire could build a better life together.

But at three in the morning, a frantic call from the hospital shattered her world.

Kaia barely remembered driving to the hospital, her entire body trembling from head to toe.

She stood frozen, watching Claire being rushed into the emergency room once again. A bottomless pit seemed to open inside her chest, swallowing her whole.

2/7

A nurse hurried out, her face grim. “Ms. Domont, this is your grandmother’s critical condition notice. Please sign here.”

Kaia’s fingers shook as she scrawled her name. “How’s my grandma?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

The nurse, aware of how much Kaia cared for Claire, offered a reassuring tone. “Ms. Domont, don’t worry. Our doctors are doing everything they can.” She tucked the form away and dashed back to the operating room.

Claire’s surgery dragged on from three in the morning until nine. Kaia sat in silence, tears streaming down her face.

At 9:07, the operating room doors swung open. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Domont. We did all we could.” He glanced at the chart, his tone clinical. “Patient Claire Domont, time of death 9:07 AM, cause: heart failure.”

Kaia staggered backward, saved from falling by a quick-thinking

nurse.

“My condolences, Ms. Domont,” the nurse said softly. “There are still many arrangements to make. You should notify your family soon.”

Kaia gripped the nurse’s hand tightly. “I need to see my grandmother.”

“She’ll be moved back to her room shortly,” the nurse replied.

When Claire’s body, draped in a white sheet, was wheeled into the room, Kaia collapsed to her knees beside the bed.

She didn’t dare pull the sheet back. She couldn’t understand how just days ago her kind, warm grandma had been talking to her, and now she was gone.

An invisible hand seemed to clutch Kaia’s heart, squeezing until it felt like it would rip from her chest. The pain stole her breath.

“Grandma!” Kaia sobbed, crumpling against the bed. Memories flooded her mind, vivid and relentless. “Kaia, come here, let me tell you a story,” Claire’s voice echoed.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart. If your dad doesn’t cherish you, I’ll be your rock. With me by your side, you’re as good as anyone,” she had promised.

“Kaia, I’m leaving you my 5% shares. I don’t know how much they’re worth, but big or small, they’re your safety net. A woman needs money to stand tall,” Claire had said.

“Kaia, if you don’t want to marry, don’t. As long as you’re happy, I’ll back whatever choice you make,” she’d assured her.

Grief surged like a tidal wave, engulfing Kaia, pulling her under

like a drowning soul, her vision blurred, and her lungs gasping for air.

“Grandma, are you leaving me?” Kaia choked out between sobs. “Please come back. Without you, no one will love me like you

did.”

Time blurred as Kaia’s tears slowed, her heart steadying. She wiped her face and gazed at Claire, whose expression was serene, peaceful, but lifeless.

For over a decade, Claire had been Kaia’s only anchor. Slowly, the sorrow in Kaia’s eyes hardened into burning resentment. She was certain that Luna’s visit had pushed Claire over the edge, triggering her illness and, ultimately, her death.

Kaia’s fists clenched, her anger a wildfire consuming her every thought.

She dialed Tobias’ number. The moment he picked up, Tobias let out a cold huff. “What, calling to grovel now?”

Kaia’s disappointment in him was absolute. “Grandma’s gone.”

The news hit Tobias like a bolt, his body stiffening. “Gone? When? Just now?”

“Yes. Come to the hospital,” Kaia said. “Come alone. I don’t want anyone else there.”

news shook him.

Sally, overhearing the call, leaned closer. “What’s wrong, Tobias? Who’s gone?”

“My mother passed away,” he said, his voice low. “You and Kimberly stay home. I’m heading to the hospital to handle her arrangements.”

By the time Tobias arrived at the hospital, Kaia’s tears had long dried. She sat in the hospital room, her expression vacant, her eyes only flickering slightly when Tobias stepped inside.

“How could this happen?” Tobias wailed, crouching by the bedside, his voice thick with theatrical sorrow. He tried to summon tears, but his eyes remained dry.

Watching his crocodile tears and feigned anguish, Kaia felt her heart sink with bitter disappointment.

“Kaia, don’t be too heartbroken,” Tobias said, his tone softening. “Your grandma’s gone to a better place. She’ll watch over our family from above. Leave the rest to me.”

Claire had only one son, and Kaia wouldn’t deny Tobias his duty to mourn. It was his responsibility to see her laid to rest.

On the day of the funeral, Sally finally saw Kaia again. Even though it had only been a day, something about Kaia’s eyes had changed.

Sally couldn’t quite describe it. She felt there was a coldness there, laced with a piercing sharpness. When Kaia glanced her way, it sent a chill straight down her spine.