Chapter 44: Chapter 44

"I can't believe you're really going," Gregory commented, trying to hold back tears. I let out a small chuckle and hug him. "I'll send you messages every day," he confesses, squeezing me in his arms.

"I promise to respond to all of them."

I pull away from Gregory and go to hug Nathan. "As soon as I can, I'll visit you there," he comments and hugs me tightly too. "Behave yourself, okay?" I joke. "Both of you." I glance over at Gregory.

"We'll be rooting for you, Ali," Gregory says with a cheerful smile. I see some tears streaming down his face, but he quickly wipes them away with the back of his hand. "Don't miss us too much!" I say playfully.

I head towards the apartment's exit with my sisters, followed by Nathan and Gregory. "It feels like yesterday that we met. And today... She's leaving. I feel like a mother watching her child grow up and leave. Although... 'Grow up' is a strong word for Alice," I hear Gregory whisper behind me. "Hey! I'm listening!" I glance back at him and make a face.

We leave the building. The taxi that would take my sisters and me to the airport was already waiting for us. The driver helps me put the suitcases in the trunk.

I go back to Gregory and Nathan for my final goodbye. "I hope your mother gets well soon," Gregory comments, and I feel a small lump in my throat. That was what I wanted the most. "Thank you for everything." I give him one last smile and turn to get in the car.

***

London painfully says goodbye to me as it passes through my eyes. That city had been part of one of the best phases of my life. The path I was taking to the airport made me remember clearly the day I arrived here. And Joshua... It hurts to know that maybe I'll never see him again or that our romance still exists after we meet again. But there are certain things in life that we need to let go of to follow another path. And although Joshua had been my first passionate love, the love I felt for my mother was stronger.

I get out of the car and go with the driver to the trunk, taking out my suitcases and my sisters'. Each one grabbed theirs.

I thank and pay the driver and head inside the airport. My flight would leave in a few minutes.

I walk through the huge hall and make my way to one of the chairs, sitting down. "Ali..." Agatha murmurs. "Isn't that your friend?" She pointed to the man sitting in one of the chairs in front of us. "My friend?" I asked, confused, and looked towards the young man with wavy hair who was analyzing the screen of his cell phone in his hands, trying to recognize him. I can't believe it! "Benjamin?"

I raised my voice a little to overcome the noise that went through the airport. Benjamin looks up and looks for where that voice had come from until his gaze meets mine. "Alice?" He wrinkles his forehead, surprised.

Our smiles automatically intertwined.

“I didn't expect to see you here," I said, still in disbelief.

"Some family problems came up, so I need to go back to Brazil. And you?" he asked.

"No way," I said, unable to hide my surprise, and even a little excited to have at least one acquaintance on the plane, besides my sisters who weren't much for conversation. "I'm also going back to Brazil."

"Really?" His reaction was as surprised as mine.

"Don't tell me it's also because of family problems," he joked.

"Almost that," I grimaced. "My mother is sick, so I need to go back."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, nodding sympathetically.

"It's okay. I know she's a strong woman, so she'll be able to overcome everything." Thinking that way was almost like a mantra for me not to panic. "Anyway..." I shrugged and took a deep breath. "I had no idea I was going to run into you here."

"Same here, Miss Collins," he teased. "Would you have left without saying goodbye?"

I gave him a sarcastic look. "As if. Would you have?"

He shook his head and chuckled. "You got me there," he admitted, still smiling.

"Well... considering this whole scenario... I suspect your trip was unexpected as well?" I asked.

"Worse than that," he confirmed. "After I came back from the island, a few hours later, my parents' housekeeper called, almost begging me to come back to Brazil. And after years, I have to admit I was surprised by her request. But, as expected, they would only need me if a family tragedy had occurred."

The airport bell rang, signaling that our flight was about to leave. We got up from our seats simultaneously and headed towards the boarding corridor.

***

After hours on the plane, we finally landed. I was extremely exhausted. Sitting for hours felt like it broke every bone in your body. But, on the bright side, we were already on Brazilian soil.

"Well, it was nice traveling with you, Alice. Even though we sat in seats apart. I'll see you around," he said, smiling in farewell.

I watched Benjamin walk out of the airport.

"Is he your new boyfriend?" Agatha asked innocently.

"What? No! He's just a friend from college," I replied, embarrassed. "Let's go home. I have to leave you with our aunt. I have to go to the hospital."

***

As I entered the huge healthcare building, I was amazed at how chic it was. Although I only knew it by name and reputation, I imagined it to be stunning, but it had exceeded my expectations. I had no idea how my mother had managed to get the money to pay for that hospital. Approaching the reception desk, I asked one of the attendants for information.

"Good morning, could you please tell me where Stefanny Montenegro's room is?"

"One moment, let me check the system," she said, analyzing the records on the computer before giving me an answer. "Third floor. Room nineteen."

"Thank you," I said, grateful, and headed towards the elevator, which fortunately was close to the reception, as I would easily get lost otherwise. Taking the elevator to the third floor, I searched for room nineteen as the attendant had told me. After walking a bit, I finally found it. I stopped in front of the door and could hear some muffled voices coming from inside. I assumed it was a doctor. Anxious to see my mother again after years but tense about seeing her in the hospital, I slowly opened the door, revealing something I never imagined I would see.

"Benjamin?" I looked confusedly at him, and he gave me the same look. He was standing next to a doctor who was examining my mother.

Benjamin and I stared at each other, confused. What is he doing here?

"Alice?" he said, intrigued. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing. This is my mother," I replied.

"What?" Benjamin seemed amazed.

"Alice..." my mother murmured, with a small sleepy smile on her face.

"That's not possible," Benjamin said, flabbergasted.

"She needs to rest," the doctor said, interrupting us. "She's a bit weak due to the chemotherapy, but in a few hours, she'll be ready for the bone marrow transplant."

The doctor approached me. "You must be Alice, her daughter, right?" he asked, and I nodded. "I'm Dr. Schmütz. In charge of her care."

"Not just in charge of her care, right?" Benjamin retorted, sounding resentful.

"Not here, Benjamin," Dr. Schmütz reprimanded him. "When Stefanny receives the transplant and is well again, we'll talk about it." He walked past me and opened the door. "I'll wait for you in the donation room, Benjamin."

Dr. Schmütz informed us and walked out of the room, entering the corridor. I glanced briefly at my mother in the hospital bed. She had fallen asleep. She was so pale that she didn't look like the lively woman I had seen three years ago. My attention turned back to Benjamin. He still seemed as lost as I was.

"Can we talk?" I asked. Benjamin nodded, and we left the room. I closed the door and faced him. "Can you explain to me what's going on?" I raised my eyebrows. "Why are you here? And... What did you mean by 'not just in charge of her care'? How do you know my mother?"

Benjamin took a deep breath, trying to process what had happened.

"First... I had no idea she was your mother. And..." Benjamin squints his eyes for a few moments and lets out a heavy sigh. "She... She's my father's mistress. Dr. Schmütz." My mouth automatically falls open. "And... Ironically, my bone marrow is compatible with hers."

I freeze, in shock. There were too many pieces of information to process at once.

"You're saying that... My mother... Is your father's mistress? The doctor who's taking care of her?" I furrow my brow and Benjamin nods his head. I let out an ironic laugh, disbelieving. "You must be kidding me."

"I wish it wasn't true. Your mother ended my parents' marriage. And the only thing I should feel for her... is resentment. But... I'm here. Ready to save her life. Even knowing that... I'll only be doing what my father wants. Like a puppet. Because... " He takes a deep breath again. "I can't be as bad a person as he is."

I could feel the hurt in Benjamin's voice as he spoke about his own father. It must be hard to help someone he didn't like. And I still couldn't believe that my mother had stooped to being someone's mistress.

"I'm sorry this happened to your family."

"Don't be. The biggest culprit in all of this is him. Because... When their housekeeper called me, begging me to come back, it was because my father didn't have the courage to talk to me and ask me to save a life. At first, I couldn't believe it. But then I realized that, because she was his mistress, he was afraid I would refuse his request."

"And yet, you still accepted."

"That's because I'm not a bad person, Alice. I'd be able to help even my own enemy."

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to. I'm here now. And... I'm her daughter, I should be compatible too."

"It's not always that simple. Not everyone in the family is a match. And... It's okay, Alice. I want to do this. Really."

"Thank you for... helping her. Even though she doesn't deserve it from you."

Benjamin gives a small smile.

"Now, I have to go. My father is waiting for me."

I nodded and watched him walk down the hallway towards the elevator.

I let out a sigh, still stunned. Who would've thought that all my worries about finding my mother again would turn into a wave of unexpected discoveries.

***

A few weeks later, my mother had already recovered. The bone marrow transplant had been a success. I would never forget Benjamin's benevolent act. He was the main reason for her recovery, and despite his adversities towards my mother, Benjamin had been by my side through it all, even accompanying me to the hospital every time I went to visit her. He was essential in that turbulent moment of my life.

I enter the hospital room where my mother was already getting ready to go home.

"How are you feeling today?" I lean against the door behind me.

"Alive." She smiles and closes the zipper of her bag. "I'm looking forward to going home. Spending some time with you and your sisters."

"It's good to see you recovered."

"I just have to thank Benjamin. He was a good man."

"Mom... About Benjamin..." I speak a little hesitantly, not sure if I should bring up that subject at that moment. "Have you known him for a long time?"

She shrugs her shoulders.

"I knew he was Edgar's son. But I hadn't seen him yet," she says.

"What's your relationship with Benjamin's father?" I ask, even though I already know the answer.

My mother sighs and wets her lips.

"I imagine Benjamin has told you already, hasn't he?" she looks at me. "After you left, I decided to get a job. I found a job as a maid in Edgar's house. And... we ended up getting involved."

I let out a small chuckle and shake my head, still unable to digest that subject pleasantly. I observe her a bit critically.

"Don't look at me with those judgmental eyes," she pouts. "We're the same."

"How?" I raise my eyebrows, indignant.

"We got involved with our bosses."

"No! That doesn't make us the same," I reprimand, perplexed.

"How not? You and Joshua. Me and Edgar."

"Mom!" My mouth falls open. "The difference, or rather... the huge difference, is that Joshua didn't have a wife. I didn't stoop to being his mistress!"

"Why are you acting like I'm guilty?" she says incredulously.

"You destroyed a marriage!" My tone of voice sounds as if it were obvious. "And for what?"

My mother rolls her eyes and huffs.

"Why did you get involved with Joshua?" she asks, shrewd. "What made you like him?"

"This is not about me, Mom!"

"We're in the same position as maids who got involved with their own boss. So..." She approaches me. "What made you like him?"

"He liked me, even knowing who I really was!"

"And you liked him because he liked you?" she arches her eyebrows.

I narrow my eyes, trying to understand where she was going with this. Until I finally realize what she was trying to talk about.

"Are you insinuating that I got involved with Joshua because of his money?"

My mother shrugs her shoulders, making it clear that that was really the question she wanted to ask from the start. I end up releasing a mocking laugh, so astonished I was.

"What happened to you in these last years?" I say, resentful.

"Life teaches you that the world belongs to the smart ones, Alice."

"Not when it comes to being with someone just for their money!"

"If I hadn't gotten involved with Edgar, I might not be alive now! Would you want your mother dead?" she says persuasively.

I fall silent, observing only the woman's face filled with new principles, which were far from being worthy.

"So, don't say we're the same," I sound harsh. "I would never be interested in someone just because of their money. That's something I can achieve by working."

"Even as a maid?"

"I have my values. Something that I think you've forgotten what it is."

I launch my last resentful words and turn to the door, opening it and leaving the room indignantly.