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 Leandroy
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 ss 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 nced at Seraphina and called
out, “Sera,e 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 me, 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.”
Bruce 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 me 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?”
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“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 dy 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 oning 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 Leandroes
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 ss.
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, be 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.
Inside Leandro’s room, Seraphina sat quietly beside him, asionally 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 ces 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 everpensate 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 evesting?
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.”