After they hung up, Bianca felt her mood sink again. The whirlwind of recent events had left her feeling completely drained, and Dave’s absence only made the loneliness more painful.
She was used to keeping her frustrations to herself, always putting on a strong face for friends and colleagues. She never allowed anyone to see her vulnerable side.
Her mind wandered to her mother, Madison, who was the embodiment of warmth and love. If there was anyone who could truly understand her pain, it was her mother.
When her mother was in good health, nothing compared to the comfort of her mother’s silent embrace and the soothing touch of her hand on her back.
Madison was also a woman of great strength and independence, built through years of facing life’s challenges alone. She had walked through hardship and came out stronger. With her deep empathy and wisdom, she had the power to guide Bianca through any tough situation.
Bianca suddenly felt a deep ache for her mother, missing her more than ever. But even though Madison was now lying in a hospital bed, she was still Bianca’s safe place. The simple act of visiting and talking to her meant everything.
When Bianca arrived at the hospital, she walked toward her mother’s room, only to hear the soft murmur of a man’s voice inside.
The door was slightly ajar, and Bianca stepped to the side, allowing the voices to come through clearly.
Despite the knot of tension in her stomach, Bianca fought the urge to turn away.
She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she needed to face this.
On the other side of the door, Leonel sensed her hesitation and, noticing a familiar piece of clothing, instantly recognized it was Bianca. It had been a while since they’d seen each other.
He stayed quiet, patiently waiting for her to gather the courage to step in.
When Bianca finally walked through the door, Leonel paused momentarily before breaking the silence. “So, you decided to join us after all? I half-expected you to turn around and leave.”
“I’m just here to check on Mom. Why would you think that?” Bianca replied quietly to her brother.
She walked straight over to Madison’s bedside, without backing down.
After their last fight, the siblings had fallen silent for a while. Leonel didn’t try to fix things, and Bianca, afraid of another argument about her relationship with Dave, decided it was better to just leave things as they were and stop contacting him.
After a long pause, Leonel finally spoke, his tone still sharp. He glanced at Bianca, teasing, “Just here for Mom? I thought you were too busy with your love life to visit the hospital. Where’s your boyfriend? Aren’t you two madly in love?”
Bianca frowned at Leonel’s words, but today, she didn’t have the energy or the patience to argue with him. She just wanted a quiet moment with their mother.
“I’ve been really busy with work, and so has my boyfriend. He left for a business trip last night,” Bianca explained, trying to stay calm. Then, almost pleading, she added, “Leonel, please don’t do this to me. I’m just here for Mom. If you don’t want me here, I’ll leave.”
As she turned to walk away, Leonel grabbed her arm. His tone was firm this time. “If you’re here for Mom, then stay. I’ll leave instead. Don’t make it seem like I’m the one kicking you out.”
Bianca didn’t say anything, just stood there as Leonel walked out and shut the door behind him.
She took a moment to collect herself, then went to the bathroom to grab a basin and fill it with water. She planned to give her mom a sponge bath.
After adjusting the water temperature a few times, Bianca picked up some soft towels. She carefully carried the basin to Madison’s bedside and set it down on the nightstand. Then, she soaked the towels, wrung them out, and made sure they were damp enough.
Madison was lying in the hospital gown, and Bianca gently wiped her mother’s bare skin with a towel.
“Hey, Mom,” Bianca whispered, her voice breaking as tears filled her eyes. “I’m here now. Work’s been crazy, and it feels like it’s been forever since we’ve seen each other. Did you miss me?”
Her mom didn’t answer, but Bianca kept speaking. “I miss you so much. When are you going to wake up? There’s so much I need to tell you. Things have been kind of tense between Leonel and me… I just can’t figure out how to talk to him anymore. I know you and Dad weren’t happy about me being with Dave, but… I love him. It’s not easy to let go of someone you love, you know? It’s kind of like when you finally left Dad-dealing with all that hurt and disappointment. Dave’s different, though. He’s not like the others. Yeah, he’s good-looking and ambitious, but he’s also a hard worker, staying late at the office every day. He treats me so well, and I’m really happy with him. I just hope you and Leonel can give us your blessing. Once you get to know him, I’m sure you’ll see why I want to be with him. I really wish I could tell you not to worry about me, that I’m doing fine, but… I can’t lie to you. It’s been tough lately, and I’ve been struggling. If you were here, I know you’d have some good advice for me.”
Bianca poured her heart out to the empty room, releasing everything she’d been holding in. “Mom, starting a business is so hard. I’m just so tired. I wish I could curl up in your arms for a little while. Even just a bit of time with you would bring me so much peace. Please, wake up soon…”
The room fell quiet, and then there was a soft click from the door.
Bianca looked up and saw Leonel standing there; his eyes turned soft as he looked at their mom.
After stepping out for a while, Leonel seemed calmer. Now, both siblings sat together quietly by their mom, sharing a peaceful moment.
“Hey, do you know if Reese Vance has been free lately?” Leonel suddenly asked, glancing at Bianca.
Bianca was caught off guard and looked up at him, asking, “Why do you ask? Do you need her for something personal?”
Leonel shook his head. “I’m about to launch a new medication for obesity that I developed, and I’m thinking of asking her to endorse it.”