However, when Bianca visited the academy, she found that the teachers weren’t willing to help. They said they were too busy with their schedules, even when offered generous payment.
Bianca found it strange.
She had a feeling Zoey might have influenced things behind the scenes. But it seemed unlikely that Zoey could sway all the teachers from such a prestigious institution to refuse Bianca’s offer.
Lost in thought, Bianca wandered through the academy’s campus, deep in contemplation.
Suddenly, the screech of brakes grabbed her attention. She looked up and saw an elderly woman lying in the middle of the road, her bag of oranges scattered around her.
A man leaned out of his car and angrily scolded the elderly woman, muttering, “You foolish old lady! Can’t you watch where you’re going?”
After his outburst, he quickly drove away in his car.
Bianca hurried over and reached out to help the elderly woman up. She gathered the spilled oranges, only to find a big hole in the bag.
“Thank you, dear,” the elderly lady said warmly, grateful for Bianca’s help.
“Are you alright?” Bianca asked, worried.
The elderly lady sighed. “I’m fine. Those oranges were for my husband. He loves them. I didn’t expect the bag to tear and spill onto the road. I was rushing to pick them up and didn’t see the car coming.”
Bianca examined the oranges in her hands and commented, “It seems challenging for you to handle all these oranges alone. Where do you live? Let me help by delivering them for you.”
The elderly lady, appearing to be in her eighties, had eyes that reflected wisdom and calmness.
She looked up at Bianca thoughtfully.
“Thank you so much for helping me, Miss,” the elderly lady expressed gratefully.
“Don’t mention it. I’m happy to help,” Bianca replied warmly.
Bianca carried the oranges and followed the elderly lady to an old residential area. No elevator was in sight, unlike the upscale housing the Edenfield Film Academy provided for its staff, making places like this feel forgotten.
These old neighborhoods had been torn down so much that only remnants remained.
Bianca climbed to the second floor, where the elderly lady unlocked the door with a rusty key, warmly inviting Bianca inside the apartment.
Bianca was drawn to the interior of the apartment. Despite its aged exterior, the inside was tidy and well-maintained. A large cabinet stood immaculately clean, displaying various items dating back to the past century. The walls were decorated with posters of celebrities from a bygone era, radiating a nostalgic charm.
“Miss, please place those oranges on the table,” the elderly lady instructed, then walked to the kitchen to fetch a clean cloth. In one corner of the living room, she diligently began wiping something down.
As Bianca set the oranges on the table, she glanced over at the elderly lady.
Bianca couldn’t hide her surprise; her eyes widened. The elderly lady was gently cleaning a portrait of a loved one who had passed away. In the photograph, a man with a warm, gentle smile looked back at them. Just a glance at the portrait revealed that he must have been quite handsome in his younger days.
“Ma’am…” Bianca spoke softly, her voice filled with empathy.
The elderly lady turned, meeting Bianca’s sorrowful gaze. Bianca approached a nearby table, picked up two oranges, and placed them in front of the portrait.
“My husband loved oranges,” the elderly lady said, running her dry hand over the old man’s face in the portrait. “Darling, today I feel lucky to have met a young lady who brought these for me. Otherwise, you might have missed them.”
“Ma’am… Do you live here alone now?” Bianca asked gently.
“Yes. It’s just me since my husband passed away.”
“Where are your children?” Bianca asked gently.
The elderly lady smiled sadly. “I don’t have any children.”
Bianca was initially surprised but quickly composed herself. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
The woman studied Bianca for a moment and then asked, “Young people these days often worry about being tricked by the elderly when they offer help. Aren’t you concerned about that?”
Bianca shook her head. “I didn’t think about it. When I saw you fall, I acted on instinct and came over to help. But I understand why some people are cautious, especially with news stories about older individuals pretending to need help for dishonest reasons.”
The lady’s face brightened with a relieved smile. “It’s so rare to meet someone as kind and understanding as you. What’s your name?”
“Bianca Scott.”
“Bianca Scott…” The elderly lady repeated, her eyes widening with surprise. She turned around, mumbling to herself for a moment. Then she faced Bianca again, her smile growing wider by the second.
“Ma’am, is there something on my face?” Bianca asked, curious about the woman’s gaze.
“Oh, not at all. Bianca is a lovely name,” the elderly woman said warmly. “It’s already noon. How about staying for lunch? Think of it as my way of saying thank you.”
“I…” Bianca hesitated about sharing a meal with a stranger, but seeing the old lady’s loneliness, she nodded and said, “Sure, thank you.”
“Please, make yourself comfortable. I’ll start cooking.” The lady happily headed to the kitchen.
Restless on the sofa, Bianca stood up and glanced around the room. She hadn’t expected to find anything interesting, but then she noticed a surprising sight inside a glass cabinet tucked in the corner.
The cabinet held several photo frames. They displayed group pictures of a woman with famous Hollywood stars, well-known directors, and even the president of Blosa Film University, someone Bianca recognized from newspapers and magazines.
One photo caught Bianca’s eye. It showed the woman standing next to Everleigh Pearson, a former popular singer from over two decades ago.
Back then, Everleigh was a superstar who excelled in film, TV, and music, and she had a captivating charm.
Her voice was especially enchanting, surpassing even Brandon, the current top musician. Everleigh won every music award worldwide, becoming the first singer to capture hearts globally.
Sadly, after her worldwide fame, one day, she jumped from a tall building.
This marked the tragic end of a legendary singer.
“What caught your eye?”
Lost in her thoughts and surprise, Bianca was startled when the elderly lady spoke up.
Turning quickly, she asked, “These photos…?”
“Just some old pictures from my younger days. I couldn’t bear to part with them, so I framed them,” she replied casually, brushing off Bianca’s astonishment.
“Ma’am, what’s your name?” Bianca asked curiously.
“I’m Ruby Garcia,” the elderly woman answered casually, continuing to tidy up.
Bianca’s eyes widened in astonishment.
She was Ruby Garcia!!