Chapter 459


    Given Leandro’s boredom while confined to his hospital bed, Seraphina took it upon herself to enliven


    his days, even going so far as to arrange for Valerio’s tutoring sessions to take ce at the hospital.


    Though he hadpany by day, the loss of freedom was a torment to a man like Leandro, who was


    ustomed to a bustling life. Forced to be idle, he waspletely out of his element.


    Three days post-op, once he was free of the myriad tubes, Leandro began trying to get out of bed with


    assistance.


    On day four, he attempted to walk on his own.


    By the seventh day, Seraphina had to leave to handle some matters at Carney Artful Reverie. Twenty


    minutes after her departure, Leandro, with Keen’s support, also made a temporary exit from the


    hospital.


    Naturally, he was going to see Gloria.


    Herman was already surprised when he got the call, but seeing Leandro in person left him utterly


    astonished.


    “Leandro!” Herman rushed over to support him. “How did you manage to get discharged so soon?”


    Fresh from surgery, Leandro was visibly pale and running on sheer willpower.


    Herman guessed the reason immediately. “Does Seraphina know you’ve bolted from the hospital?”


    Leandro shook his head, bypassing the concern. “Is everything set?”


    Herman was worried about his health, but since Leandro hade all this way, they couldn’t let it be


    for nothing. He nodded, “But it can’t be long, you need to get back to the hospital ASAP.”


    Leandro acknowledged with a nod.


    Herman reached out to help him, but Leandro waved him off, “I’m not that fragile.”


    Unable to argue, Herman let him be.


    Ten minutester, Gloria, apanied by a policewoman, entered the room where Leandro was


    waiting.


    As she stepped in, her face was calm, but upon seeing Leandro, her eyes instantly welled up. She


    hastened forward, reaching out to cradle his face.


    The policewoman moved to intervene but was stopped by Herman.


    Understanding Herman’s look, the policewoman nodded and closed the door behind her.


    Gloria gazed silently at Leandro for a moment and then couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.


    “Does it still hurt?” she sobbed, “Your wounds, do they still hurt?”


    Leandro gently grasped her hands. “It stopped hurting a while ago.”


    Up close, Gloria could see the weariness in his pallor. She cried even harder, “I’m sorry, Leandro… I


    have failed you…”


    Holding her hands tightly, Leandro said, “I’ve made the effort toe see you, please don’t cry.”


    Despite his words, Gloria couldn’t stop her tears, leaning on him and weeping. Even in the worst fights


    with Bruce, Gloria rarely cried. Her tears showed she was no longer holding back.


    Leandro let her cry it out without further attempts to console her.


    After more than ten minutes, Gloria began to calm down, still looking at Leandro with a mix of


    tenderness and remorse. “You need to heal properly. You’re so young; don’t let my mistakes cause you


    lasting harm.”


    “Don’t worry,” Leandro reassured her. “I’ll take care of myself. And I know you’re struggling too. I’ll get


    you out of here soon.”


    Gloria paused at his words, then slowly shook her head.


    “No need,” she said. “Just take care of yourself. I’ve done wrong and need to face the


    consequences…”


    “Mum-“Leandro called out softly.


    “It’s true,” Gloria insisted, gripping his hand tighter. “I’m not being spiteful or giving up. I’ve thought it


    through. Just let it be… I’ll be at peace knowing you’re okay. Nothing else matters-”


    As she spoke, Gloria lowered her head, resting her forehead against Leandro’s hand, her heart full of


    silent prayers.


    In all these years, Leandro had never seen Gloria soposed. For a moment, he was at a loss for


    words.


    08:511


    Gloria looked up again, her focus solely on Leandro as if nothing else mattered.


    Then Leandro spoke up, “Dad said he visited you, but you refused to see him.”


    Hearing Bruce’s name, Gloria’s gaze hardened slightly, then softened into a faint smile. “What’s the


    point? It’s meaningless… Tell him not toe anymore… Arrange for awyer to handle our divorce.”


    Leandro’s eyes flickered. “Have you finallye to terms with it?”


    Gloria let out a smallugh. “I have. I’ve tormented myself over him for the better part of my life. It’s


    time to live for myself. Don’t you think?”


    With that, she looked into Leandro’s eyes-a smile on her lips, tears in her eyes.


    Leandro tightened his grip on her hand. “Your happiness is what matters most.”


    Gloria’s concern quickly returned to him. “Why are your hands so cold? Are you feeling alright? You


    shouldn’t be out of the hospital so soon after such a severe injury. Did you sneak out?”


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    “Don’t worry,” Leandro reassured her. “I know my own body. I’m fine.”


    Gloria leaned on him again, taking a moment to find her words. “You should go back and recover…


    Don’t worry about me, I’m doing well. I’ve never been better… My only wish is for you to be alright…”


    After finishing her sentence, she paused for a moment before continuing, “I know you’ll get better. With


    Seraphina by your side, you’re bound to recover… You care for her, and she cares for you… You’ve


    suffered enough over the years, and now, with her support, you can finally start living a good life…”


    Leandro listened silently, locking eyes with her for a moment before finally speaking in a soft voice,


    “You need to get better too, for me to have a good life.”


    “I know, I know…” Gloria’s tears started to fall once again. “I’ll be fine. From now on, you won’t have to


    worry about me anymore…”


    Leandro slowly raised his hand to wipe away the tears cascading down her cheeks.


    As Leandro was about to leave, he saw Bruce standing at the doorway.


    Bruce, upon seeing him, immediately approached, first scolding him for leaving the hospital without


    notice, then hesitantly inquired about Gloria, “Your mother… how is she?”


    “She’s doing well,” Leandro replied.


    “Does she want to see me?” Bruce asked.


    Leandro slowly said, “There’s no need. She won’t see you again. The years of conflict and


    entanglement between you two shoulde to an end now.”


    Bruce was stunned upon hearing this.


    All the conflicts and arguments he had with Gloria over the years were for this very day.


    But now that the day had finally arrived, there was no sense of joy or thrill in his heart.


    Who could have imagined that after carrying a burden for thirty years, its release would not bring relief


    or freedom, but rather an inexplicable sense of loss?