Ruby took Bianca’s hand in one of hers and Blake’s in the other, bringing their hands together.
Bianca was surprised and instinctively wanted to pull away, but Ruby held on tightly.
Ruby looked at Blake and Bianca, her eyes filled with both hope and worry. “You two have to be okay. Don’t end up like your mothers…”
Blake, looking confused, asked, “Ms. Garcia, do you know what happened to my mom?”
Suddenly, Ruby realized she had said too much. Her lips trembled as she gently touched Blake’s hand and quickly changed the topic. “Blake, you’re a good friend. Please look after Bianc for me, okay?”
Blake’s cheeks flushed pink. He glanced at Bianca and whispered, “Don’t worry, Ms. Garcia. I’ll always be there for her.”
Ruby nodded, looking relieved.
But Ruby’s sudden change of topic only made Blake more curious.
After Ruby left, Bianca and Blake walked back together.
Blake kept thinking about Ruby’s words. He hesitantly asked, “Bianca, about those students Ms. Garcia mentioned-was one of them, Madison? And the other, could it be Everleigh, the famous singer?”
Bianca nodded. “Yeah, that’s the first I’ve heard of it from Ms. Garcia. It’s such a shame about Everleigh. I can’t believe she would end her life by jumping off a building at the peak of her fame. It must have been really tough for Ms. Garcia.”
As she talked, Bianca suddenly paused, a thought coming to her. She turned to Blake, studying his face closely.
She had never noticed it before, but now she saw that Blake’s eyes looked a lot like Everleigh’s.
Feeling Bianca’s intense stare for the first time, Blake couldn’t meet her eyes. He looked away and asked quietly, “Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
Bianca’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. “Blake, what’s your mother’s maiden name?”
Blake looked puzzled by her sudden question. He shrugged and said, “I’m not sure. My godparents rarely talked about her. They just said she died in an accident. I’ve asked them, but they always hesitate, like there’s something they’re not telling me. Sometimes, I wonder if there’s more to her death, which is why they’re so secretive.”
Blake’s answer left Bianca’s suspicion hanging in the air.
“Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?” Blake asked, looking confused.
Without hesitation, Bianca asked, “Remember what Ms. Garcia said earlier? Is Everleigh Pearson your mom?”
Blake stood there, stunned. Ruby had just warned them not to end up like their mothers, mentioning her past two students. One was Bianca’s mom, and the other must be…
The realization hit him hard. He stared at Bianca, his mind racing.
“But… if Everleigh really was my mom, why would they keep it a secret from me?”
Suddenly, Bianca wished she could take back her words. If Mr. and Mrs. Lopez and Ms. Garcia hadn’t told Blake, there must be a good reason for that. Why had she jumped to conclusions?
“I’m just guessing. It seems unlikely. I’ve never heard anything about Everleigh having a child. Maybe I’m overthinking it.” With that, Bianca turned and continued on her way.
Blake, however, remained frozen in place, unable to shake off the feeling.
Once Bianca was gone, he started searching for information on Everleigh, but nothing substantial came up. The only thing that caught his attention was a scandalous rumor.
It was said that Everleigh had taken her life by jumping from a building after being abandoned by a wealthy tycoon.
While the rumors about Everleigh’s suicide weren’t entirely true, Blake knew he had to uncover the truth. He needed to find out if she really was his mother and what had led to her tragic end.
That night, Bianca returned home late. Dave was still up, lounging on the sofa with a magazine, waiting for her.
Eager to share her day, Bianca told Dave about her visit to the Phoenix Alliance Group to discuss acquiring Cherish. She was curious to hear his thoughts.
Dave raised his eyebrows and replied, “That’s great. I’m sure the Phoenix Alliance Group will take good care of Cherish.”
Leaning against him, Bianca said, “I’m glad you agree. Oh, I met the CEO of the Phoenix Alliance Group today. He was different than I expected, but his vision and generosity really impressed me. He’s really made a name for himself in the business world!”
Wyatt, who had worked with Dave for years and knew him well, was great at impersonating Dave and repeated exactly what Dave had wanted to convey to her.
Dave felt a surge of happiness as Bianca praised the CEO.
“You know, the CEO’s last name is Evans. Ever heard of the Evans family, the big deal in Edenfield?” Bianca suddenly mentioned.
Dave’s heart raced. He replied quietly, “Yeah, I’ve heard a bit about them.”
“Today, I also ran into Natalie there. She thought you were part of that prestigious family and said all my success is because of you,” Bianca continued, snuggling closer and laughing. “Imagine my boyfriend being a big shot? How could I not know? It’s so funny.”
Dave tightened his hold on her, his expression becoming serious.
Dave didn’t respond to Bianca’s comments. She looked up at him and asked, “Are you paying attention?”
Dave shook off his thoughts and smiled gently. “Yes, I am.”
He looked down at her and asked with a hint of teasing, “Would it make you happy to find out I’m part of the Evans family?”
Bianca sat up, pressing her lips together before replying, “No, it wouldn’t.”
“Why not?” Dave asked, frowning.
“First, it would mean you’re not being honest with me. You’d just be playing with my feelings. Second, marrying into wealthy families can feel like being trapped. How many women in those families really find happiness? I value my freedom and don’t want to feel restricted. If you are part of that wealthy family, maybe we’re not right for each other.”
After sharing her thoughts, Bianca snuggled back into Dave’s arms, smiling contentedly. “But I know you’re not, so those worries don’t matter.”
Dave stayed silent for a long time, his eyes showing a hint of sadness.
He hadn’t expected her to see it that way. How could he help her understand and accept the truth?
Dave felt troubled.
But for now, Dave’s main focus was to officially take over the Evans Group. He believed he could explain everything to Bianca later.
The next day, they got great news from the court. Sophia’s divorce case, represented by Reece, had been a big success.