Verena didn't have any work to do so she stayed at home and acompany Little Benny. She played with him and they eat lunch together.
Meanwhile, Louis headed to the hospital, where he was greeted by guards stationed outside his mother's room.
Upon entering, he found his mother sleeping and took a seat beside her, quietly observing her slow, rhythmic breaths.
His attention was fixated on the blood-stained cloth in her hand, a sight that tugged at his heart.
Witnessing his mother's frailty was heart-wrenching for Louis.
He reached out and tenderly held her hand, making an unspoken vow to do whatever was necessary to improve her condition.
The sight of the blood made him realise he had to work hard and find the world's best medical experts.
Louis prepared to leave to speak with the doctor when a movement caught his eye. He turned back to see his mother stirring, now coughing.
"Mother..." His voice prompted her to open her watery eyes and offer a smile in response to his concerned expression.
She placed her cleaned hand on his cheek and whispered, "Don't worry about me. Just focus on your work."
"Mother... you've endured so much because of them." He sniffed and spoke holding her hand in his, "Why do you still wish to remain connected to them? Are you not aware of the potent curse of Heisenberg? Why hold onto the Heisenberg name all these years?" Louis' words lingered in the air, a blend of frustration and confusion.
Joanne paused, her gaze drifting towards the horizon as memories resurfaced.
"I can't bring myself to do it. Ever since you were in my womb and he betrayed me, I've held onto my love for that person. I never realised that all these years I would be living a life called..."
"Mother..." Louis cried out, tears falling onto his mother's hands.
Seeing her whole world cry broke her heart and brought tears to her eyes. But in her weak state, even the smallest change in her condition could be dangerous.
Joanne had been diagnosed with cancer three months ago, but she had kept it a secret from her son.
How long could the truth stay hidden? Louis rushed her to the hospital and brought in the best doctors in the country.
The doctors tried everything, but her coughing up blood didn't stop. Their only hope was that she could hold on long enough for treatment and the payments to be arranged.
Louis decided to take her abroad for better care. But their family doctor warned that such a move might make her worse.
Louis trusted this doctor more than anyone else, so he didn't argue. He let his mother rest, knowing how tired she was from all life had put her through.
Still, the thought of losing her terrified him.
"Promise me, Mother, that you'll make it? That you won't leave me alone?" Louis, a powerful man in the outside world, now wept like a child, clinging to his mother.
"I promise you, my tiger. I'll stay as long as you need me. And even if I can't, I'll still be near you. Always remember that, alright?"
Louis nodded through his tears, gently wiping both his own cheeks and his mother's.
"Alright, Mother. I'm not afraid anymore. You can rest now. I'll talk to the doctors about your health and new medicines." He stood, his face still damp, though his tears had finally stopped.
Just as he was about to leave, Joanne motioned for him to sit again. He frowned, confused, but obeyed.
"When are you going to bring her home?" she asked softly.
Louis froze. He had almost forgotten he hadn't told her yet. "Yes, Mother… she's already at home. I brought her last night. She slept well—I made sure of it."
He rushed to explain, knowing how much his mother cared about the girl.
"Really? Thank goodness. My son has a wife, and my grandson has a mother. Now my heart is at peace."
Louis gave her a grateful smile.
"When will you bring her to meet me? I'm eager to see my daughter-in-law with my own eyes. I'm dying to meet her."
Louis's expression darkened. "Mother, you don't need to be near death to see her. I'll bring her soon. Just… don't use that word again."
Realising her mistake, Joanne covered her ears like a child, asking for his forgiveness with a playful smile. Despite the illness carving wrinkles into her face, she still carried grace and beauty.
Louis chuckled at her gesture, hugging her tightly before leaving to meet the doctor.
After the meeting, he returned home, his heart heavy and his mind clouded with worry.
The grand mansion greeted him with silence, a sharp contrast to the storm of emotions inside him.
Looking for comfort, he went to the estate's wine room.
As he stepped inside, the scent of aged wine filled the air. One of the maids was already there, busy with her chores.
"Open the wine cellar," Louis said, his voice heavy.
Anna bowed slightly and unlocked the door. Inside, rows of rare wines and spirits gleamed. Without much thought, Louis picked a bottle and poured himself a glass of deep red.
He took a slow sip, his mind drifting toward Verena. "How is she?" he asked quietly.
Anna looked at him with sympathy. "Young Mistress Verena is resting, sir. She's asleep in her room."
Louis nodded, then dismissed her. "You can go."
Once she left, he frowned. It was unusual for Verena to be asleep so early, and worry tugged at him. Setting down his glass, he made his way to her room.
The glow of the garden lights slipped through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft, dreamlike haze.
There she was still wearing the white and pink floral dress from earlier. In the dim light, her face looked delicate, almost unreal. Louis froze, caught off guard by the rush of emotions she stirred in him.
His heartbeat quickened. He had always avoided this feeling, keeping her at a distance.
For a moment, he leaned closer, his breath brushing her skin. But then he stopped, pulling back before crossing a line.
Instead, he gently drew the blanket over her.
Leaving the room, a storm of emotions swirled inside him. On his way back to the wine cellar, he came across Liliya, another maid. He stopped, a thought settling in his mind.
"I've already had dinner. After dinner tell Verena, I want to see her."
Liliya bowed her head in acknowledgment, and Louis moved on.
In the cellar, he chose another bottle and poured himself a glass.
Maybe it was just attraction, he told himself, taking a slow sip of wine.