Hearing Blake’s name made Reese nearly break down. “From what I’ve heard, he’s doing fine,” she sniffled. “You can visit him once you’re better. If you’re really worried, I can check on him for you. Please, just rest for now.”
But Bianca was determined. “I won’t rest until I see for myself that he’s okay,” she insisted. “I’m fine. I can walk to his ward.”
Reese couldn’t change her mind; deep down, she also wanted to see Blake. She was just worried about feeling awkward if she went alone, so she reluctantly agreed. “Okay, I’ll help you. Let’s take it slow.”
The two of them slowly made their way to Blake’s VIP ward, taking what felt like forever. The door was slightly open when they arrived, and the sound of Vincent and Paige talking inside stopped Bianca in her tracks. Nervousness rushed over her.
She hadn’t thought twice about seeing Blake, but now, hearing Vincent and Paige’s familiar voices, she wondered how she would face them.
Though Blake was not Vincent and Paige’s biological son, they loved him as their own. Bianca, feeling responsible for his condition, was overwhelmed with guilt. She feared they would blame her, yet, oddly, she was also afraid of their forgiveness.
Standing outside the ward, unsure of what to do, Bianca hesitated. Just then, Reese knocked on the door, catching Vincent and Paige’s attention.
Feeling their eyes on her, Bianca’s heart raced. Realizing there was no turning back, she mustered her courage and stepped inside.
Once inside, her eyes immediately went to Blake’s bed. Seeing him unconscious, his body wrapped in bandages with one leg raised filled her with a heavy sadness.
Paige quickly wiped away her tears and greeted Bianca with a forced smile, offering her support to sit next to her. She also signaled for Reese to join them. “How are you feeling? When did you wake up?” Paige asked with concern, taking Bianca’s hand and gently rubbing it.
“I woke up last night. The doctor said it’s nothing serious, and I should be able to go home in a few days,” Bianca answered honestly.
Paige nodded, but her eyes shifted to Blake, and tears welled up in them. “I don’t know when Blake will wake up. It’s been two days. This situation is really tearing us apart,” she said, sobbing.
“Mrs. Lopez, I’m so sorry…” Bianca couldn’t hold back her guilt. “This is all my fault…” She paused, gathering the courage to confess. “Blake got hurt trying to protect me…”
“No, dear, you’re not to blame,” Paige said softly, shaking her head with a sad smile. She dismissed Bianca’s guilt. “Blake’s life has been hard from the start. His mother left right after he was born, and his father disowned him. He never came back, choosing another family over him. Even though we adopted him, we can’t fill the emptiness left by his real parents. He hides his pain behind a smile, but he’s deeply sensitive and fears losing the people he loves. He’s incredibly loyal to those he cares about…”
As Paige spoke, tears started to fall again.
Bianca felt her heart grow heavier with sorrow. She looked at Blake, lying unconscious on the bed, and guilt flooded her again.
She tried to comfort Paige by wiping away her tears with a tissue, but Paige took it from her hand and went on. “Blake’s still so young, just starting his career, but now… his leg. What if he never walks again? Vincent and I can take care of him now, but what about the future? After we’re gone, who will be there for him?”
Paige’s voice broke as she spoke, bringing tears to everyone in the room.
Reese listened quietly, her eyes reddening as tears filled them, too. She wanted to tell them that she could take care of Blake and would do it for as long as they needed, even if it meant for the rest of her life.
She couldn’t remember when she started having such strong feelings for Blake. Maybe it was when they first met or when he didn’t judge her for her weight but instead carried her to the car and took her to the hospital when she fainted from the wrong medication. Maybe it was when he paid her medical bills and took care of her patiently.
No man had ever treated her as kindly as Blake did.
It was surprising how loving someone could feel both difficult and simple at the same time.
No matter if Blake could ever walk again, Reese just wanted to be with him in any way she could.
When she found out how badly Blake had hurt his leg, she felt a strange sense of happiness inside, thinking that maybe now she had a chance to take care of him.
But then, she was shocked by her own thoughts. She realized her feelings for Blake were becoming much stronger. Maybe she couldn’t love anyone else except him.
It seemed she had no control over her feelings. She softly bit her lip, unsure whether she should say anything. Just then, Bianca broke the silence.
“Mr. and Mrs. Lopez, don’t worry,” Bianca said, sounding more certain. She stood up and looked at Vincent and Paige with determination. “I’ll take care of Blake until he can walk again.”
Reese’s heart skipped a beat.
She looked up at Bianca in shock.
Didn’t Bianca have a boyfriend? Weren’t they supposed to get married soon? How could he be okay with her taking care of Blake? And what about Blake’s crush on Bianca? What if spending so much time together made them develop feelings for each other?
Reese’s mind raced with all the possibilities.
When Paige heard Bianca’s promise, she gently patted her hand and said, “I know you’re a kind person, but you have a boyfriend now. Even if he’s okay with it for now, what about after you get married? Will your husband still be okay with you taking care of another man?”
Bianca hesitated, unsure of what to say. Paige had a point. Would Dave be okay with Blake being part of their lives after they were married?
No man would be okay with his wife always taking care of another man. It was unclear whether Blake’s leg would fully heal. Maybe he would walk again soon, or maybe he wouldn’t ever walk again.
But Bianca knew she had to repay Blake for what he’d done, no matter what.
His leg had been broken by a boulder when he tried to save her. If it hadn’t been for him, she would be the one in the hospital bed, or it might have been uncertain if she would even survive the accident.