The accident fire a month ago was still fresh in her mind, and she already felt indebted to Blake. On top of that, he was always there, quietly helping her without making a fuss. He looked out for her from the shadows.
Bianca wasn’t heartless. She knew everything Blake had done for her and couldn’t ignore it. Her conscience wouldn’t allow her to forget, no matter what.
But how would Dave feel about it? Was it fair to him?
Seeing Bianca frown and hesitate, Paige understood the situation and sighed. “Bianca, don’t worry. Your idea isn’t really practical. I’ll find another way. I’ll contact my friends overseas to see if they know anything to help Blake’s leg recovery. I don’t want you to feel burdened by this…”
Paige’s words made Bianca feel guilty. She realized that Blake had been badly hurt while trying to save her, yet Paige was still focusing on her needs.
The less they blamed her, the harder it was for her to feel at peace.
If her mom were here, she’d probably think Bianca was being too irresponsible.
But Bianca didn’t care about that. She made up her mind in an instant.
She took Paige’s hand and looked at her seriously. “Mrs. Lopez, don’t worry. I’ve decided to take care of Blake. If his leg never heals, I won’t get married.”
Everyone in the room was shocked by her words. Vincent, who had been silent until then, frowned and asked, “What are you talking about?”
Paige held Bianca’s hand and spoke softly.
“How are we going to make this work, sweetheart? I know you’re worried, but Vince and I can’t let this ruin your marriage for Blake. You’re just as important to us as he is. We love you both like our own children.”
Bianca shook her head gently, her voice trembling. “I owe him this; I have to repay him. I’ve already made up my mind. You don’t need to try to change it anymore.”
Seeing Bianca’s sincerity, Paige looked at her husband and decided to leave it up to her.
As Reese helped Bianca back to the ward, she had something on her mind but held back from saying it.
Bianca waited for a while, but Reese stayed silent. Finally, Bianca smiled and asked, “Hey, Reese, is there something you want to say?”
After a moment of hesitation, Reese bit her lip and finally spoke up. “Bianca, are you really ready to take care of Blake for the rest of your life? If he can’t stand again, will you still stay by his side?” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “If it becomes too much for you, I could step in. I’m alone, and it would be easier for me to take care of him. I don’t have anything else holding me back.” These were the thoughts Reese had been struggling to express.
Bianca understood what Reese was going through but kept her face serious. “Reese, I know you care about Blake, but this is different. I owe him so much. How could I ask you to take on my responsibility and settle my debt?”
Clearly upset, Reese was about to say more when Bianca gently stopped her. “Reese, think about this. Even though you’ve loved him for so long, has he ever felt the same way about you?” she asked softly, holding Reese’s hands. She avoided mentioning Reese’s unreturned confession, not wanting to embarrass her.
Reese hesitated, then replied quietly, “I know he doesn’t see me the same way, but… my feelings for him don’t change. I can’t help it.”
Bianca felt deeply for her. It hurt to see Reese in the pain of unreturned love, holding on so firmly to her feelings. She didn’t want her to keep suffering, especially now with everything going on with Blake. Reese was still young and had so much ahead of her. If only she could let go of this love, happiness would find her.
Bianca paused before speaking. “Reese, you’ll meet many people in your life. There may come a day when someone feels the same way you do. That’s when you’ll really understand love. Plus, Blake’s recovery is uncertain. You’re still young, and he doesn’t feel the same. Why spend your youth waiting for him? There’s someone out there who’s a better match for you.”
Reese avoided Bianca’s eyes and replied, “You don’t need to convince me. I know what I’m doing. Let’s not talk about me anymore. Didn’t you say you might get married soon? What if your boyfriend finds out you’re hesitating over the wedding to take care of another man?”
Bianca gave a small smile. “I’ll talk to him. You should focus on your own situation, not mine.”
Seeing Bianca’s assurance, Reese decided not to push further.
When they returned to the ward, Reese brought a glass of water for Bianca. As Bianca rested in bed, she invited Reese to sit beside her. “By the way, do you remember my brother, Leonel? He recently told me that the obesity medication he’s been working on is almost ready for market. He was hoping you’d consider being the face of their campaign. I haven’t given my approval yet; I wanted to her your thoughts first.”
Hearing this, Reese paused, thinking back to the day she first met Leonel. Aside from Bianca, Leonel had been an important influence on her life. After a moment, she nodded. “If you think it’s a good idea, then I’m in.”
Bianca explained the pros and cons. Becoming the face of the product was a big decision, and she emphasized that the choice was entirely up to Reese. “It’s your decision,” she said. “Neither I nor the company will pressure you.”
Bianca had always seen Reese as someone delicate, probably because she knew about her past struggles and emotional challenges. But Reese was stronger than Bianca realized. Growing up in the homes of others, where she often faced harsh treatment, had made Reese more resilient than Bianca had given her credit for.
“Thanks for thinking of me. And please thank your brother. I’ll take the opportunity,” Reese said with real enthusiasm.
Bianca felt relieved at Reese’s eager response, joking to herself about how Leonel might tease her if the answer had been no.
“I’ll be staying in the hospital a bit longer,” Bianca said. “I’ll have Leonel talk to you about the details. If everything seems right to you, you can finalize the agreement with him.”
Reese nodded. It made more sense for her to discuss the contract with Leonel directly. Given the tension between Leonel and Bianca, especially recently, it was better to keep business and personal matters separate to avoid any conflicts.