Chapter 450
At six in the morning, the hospital’s quiet halls echoed the soft footsteps of departing visitors, leaving only
Seraphina, Bruce, Celeste, and Keen in the small lounge adjacent to the ward where Leandro lay motionless.
Keen, noticing that both Seraphina and Bruce had stayed up all night, had gone downstairs early to fetch some
sandwiches and hot coffee.
The lounge, situated directly across from Leandro’s room, offered a clear view through the hallway and the twin
panes of glass that separated them. Seraphina sat perched by the window, her gaze fixed on the still form of
Leandro across the way.
Handing out the food, Keen passed a sandwich to Bruce, who then glanced at Seraphina and called out, “Sera,
come grab something to eat.”
It took a moment for Seraphina to pull herself away from the view, but she eventually turned and took a sip of the
steaming coffee Bruce handed her. Throughout the night, Bruce hadn’t uttered a single question about Gloria, as if
his entire universe had narrowed down to the figure lying in the hospital
bed.
Taking a sip of her coffee, Seraphina finally spoke in a low voice, “Are you mad at me?”
Bruce, realizing what she was referring to, paused before replying, “Everything you did was out of concern for
Leandro. How could I be mad at you? Besides, if anyone’s to blame, it’s me. What right do I have to be mad at
anyone?”
Before Seraphina could respond, Celeste interjected, “Big brother, you’ve made enough messes over the years
with your flings. It’s time for some serious self-reflection.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBruce simply closed his eyes and let out a weary sigh.
“If you can, go see her, Seraphina suggested. “Talk to her about Leandro… Even though Herman will surely keep
her informed, hearing it from you might give her some peace.”
“Don’t blame her?” Bruce asked.
“I do,” Seraphina admitted, “but in the end, she’s a pitiable figure too.”
After this exchange, Seraphina looked at Bruce, seemingly waiting for his reply.
After a moment of silence, Bruce nodded, “Alright. Once Leandro wakes up, I’ll go see her.”
Seraphina nodded in acknowledgement and then turned to Keen, “Keen, could you head over to Reynolds Manor
for me?”
“Sure,” Keen responded promptly. “What do you need?”
“Comfort Valerio,” she said. “Bring him a few books and a couple of model kits.”
Valerio was already disappointed not having seen Leandro yesterday. If he missed her today as well, it would
undoubtedly affect his mood. But considering Leandro’s current state, she dared not let Valerio see him just yet and
decided to delay it a little longer.
“And what about Conway?” Keen couldn’t help but ask.
With such a significant incident, they could keep Valerio in the dark, but Conway would be another story.
Seraphina knew this all too well and replied, “Just give Grandpa a brief update. Don’t make it sound too grave; we
don’t want to upset him. If he insists on coming to the hospital, have his secretary bring him. Leandro should be
waking up soon anyway…”
Keen nodded in understanding and left the hospital shortly after.
Bruce, hearing Seraphina handle so many concerns, felt a twinge of guilt and suggested, “Why don’t you get some
rest? You’ve been up all night. Sleep for a while, and I’ll wake you when Leandro comes around.”
Seraphina shook her head with a faint smile, “One night of worry is nothing. Leandro has been carrying these
burdens for years, and he’s made it through, hasn’t he?”
After hearing this, Bruce sighed again and looked away.
Seraphina had barely finished her coffee when she saw the lead doctor gesturing to her from the other side of the
glass.
Rising quickly, she left the lounge and met the doctor, who nodded towards Leandro’s room. “You can go in now,
but please don’t touch anything. Are you going in?”
Before he had even finished speaking, Seraphina was already making her way through the door into Leandro’s
room.
Back in the lounge, Bruce nodded in thanks to the doctor outside, while Celeste, watching Seraphina enter the
ward, remarked, “I never knew Seraphina could be so considerate and thorough-”
Bruce sighed softly, “After all she’s been through, how could she not be?”
Sometimes, it’s those who have endured the most who hide their understanding the most. They learn not to rely on
others and in turn, become less reliant on those around them.
Solo journeys may be the best way to protect oneself in a harsh world, b
ut such a life can be unbearably lonely.
-The best destination is where there’s someone to share the burdens with, to lean on and be leaned upon.
Yet, finding such a destination is easier said than done.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Inside Leandro’s room, Seraphina sat quietly beside him, occasionally watching the medical staff attend to him but
mostly just watching him.
She couldn’t recall ever seeing Leandro so still, so quiet. To her, he had always been full of life and seemingly
tireless.
At times, she had even wondered if he was some sort of cyborg, not human, to keep on existing in such a relentless
state.
But in the places where she couldn’t see, Leandro too would hurt, would feel pain. He could be just like he was now:
quiet, fragile, and pale.
This version of Leandro was a rarity, a precious anomaly to Seraphina.
But sometimes, what’s rare and precious doesn’t bring appreciation or value; it brings fear-
The fear of loss.
Throughout their journey, she had endured a constant cycle of loss and gain. Yet in her eyes, no gain could ever
compensate for what she had lost.
She had already sacrificed so much, surely if there was any justice in this world, it would grant her something
everlasting?
Seraphina sat there, silently gazing at the slumbering Leandro, for a long, long time until he
slowly opened his eyes.
Yet she remained still, unmoving, u
ntil his gaze finally met hers.
Through the oxygen mask, she saw his lips move.
The shape of his lips was unmistakably asking her,
“What are you looking at?”
Seraphina bit her lip before she finally spoke softly, “Looking at an ugly guy.”