27 -The Poignant Reunion-

As planned the next day, both of them were in the car, and Louis was driving this time himself. Verena didn't know where they were going; he told her she lived nearer the mansion, but now he had been driving for 15 minutes.

Verena sat in the passenger seat of the car, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside. The silence between her and Louis was heavy, and she couldn't help but wonder where they were headed.

Louis. She finally broke the silence, turning her head to look at him. "Where are we going?"

Louis glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the road. "To the hospital," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

"The hospital? Why?" Her brows furrowed in confusion, and she couldn't hide her concern.

Louis took a deep breath, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. "My mother is there," he explained softly.

Verena's frown deepened as she processed his words. "Your mother? Why is she in the hospital?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine worry.

He glanced at her, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "She's sick," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "She has cancer, and her health has taken a turn for the worse. They had to admit her to the hospital."

Verena nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. The gravity of the situation hung in the air, and memories of her own mother's illness resurfaced.

She finally spoke, her voice quiet and thoughtful. "I remember my mother," she began, her gaze distant as she recalled the past. "She was also sick, but her illness was less severe than your mother's."

Louis nodded, understanding the unspoken connection between their experiences. The car continued to move forward, the engine humming softly in the background.

"I'm sorry to hear about your mother," Verena finally said, her voice filled with sympathy. "It must be

incredibly tough for you and your family."

Louis sighed, his shoulders slumping as he navigated the road. "Thank you," he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "It's been a difficult journey, but we're trying to support her as best as we can."

The car fell into another bout of silence as Verena reached over and gently placed her hand on Louis's. Their fingers intertwined, offering comfort and understanding in a time of uncertainty and sadness.

As they continued their journey to the hospital, their shared experiences and unspoken empathy bound them together, making the difficult road ahead just a little bit easier to bear.

The car came to a stop in front of the country's largest hospital, and Verena's thoughts turned somber. She couldn't help but think about how, if her mother were still alive, she would have brought her to this very hospital.

The doctors had recommended this place for her mother's surgery, but Verena couldn't afford it. Her mind drifted back to that chaotic semester, where she had taken on numerous part-time jobs, hoping to save enough money, only for it to end in disappointment.

Louis, concerned about Verena's well-being, had gently probed, "Verena, what's wrong?"

Verena, battling her own inner turmoil, finally found her voice and replied with a reassuring but slightly forced smile, "It's nothing, Louis, really." She didn't want to burden him with her own troubles at this moment.

With a nod, Louis led the way as they walked into the hospital.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing the floor where Louis's mother's room was situated. Verena, caught in her own thoughts, followed Louis down the corridor in silence.

They approached the door, and Verena couldn't help but notice the two burly guards stationed outside.

It was a stark reminder of Louis's high-profile status as the CEO of the largest company in the country, making him a potential target for adversaries.

As they entered the room, Verena's eyes were immediately drawn to a woman seated by the window, delicately savoring a plate of freshly cut fruits. The soft clink of the utensils against the plate filled the room, and the woman's eyes flickered upward as she heard the door creak open.

When those eyes, filled with a mixture of surprise and emotion, met Verena's gaze, it was as if a bolt of recognition had struck her. Verena couldn't believe her eyes.

"Verena?" the woman uttered, her voice quivering with disbelief and a hint of happiness.

Verena stood frozen, her heart racing as she processed what she was seeing and hearing. It was as though time had stood still, and she couldn't trust her senses. The room seemed to spin around her.

Louis, sensing the tension in the air, stepped forward with a warm smile and introduced Verena.

"Mother, this is Verena, my wife. Verena, meet my mom."

Still in shock, Verena hesitated to move closer, her eyes locked on the woman in front of her. She could hardly believe the astonishing twist of fate that had brought her here—to the presence of someone she had never expected to see again.

The air was thick with unspoken questions, and Verena's heart pounded with anticipation and trepidation, mirroring the emotions reflected in Louis's mother's eyes.

Louis, increasingly concerned by the sombre atmosphere, pressed Verena with his question, "What happened?"

Verena, her emotions too overwhelming to respond, simply began to walk towards the woman in the hospital bed.

Louis acknowledged her unspoken need for privacy with a subtle nod towards the nurse, who promptly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Alone in the room, Louis stood silently to the side, his eyes locked on the unfolding scene.

Verena settled into a chair beside Joanne, her trembling hand finding the frail woman's. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she softly uttered, "Aunt Joanne."

Her gaze fell upon the cloth concealing Aunt Joanne's legs, and the sight seemed to intensify her sorrow. Verena's voice broke as she questioned, her voice filled with anguish. "Why? What happened to you?"

Her tears flowed freely, and she clung to the woman who had once been a pillar of strength in her life.

Despite her own fragility, Aunt Joanne summoned the last reserves of her strength to embrace Verena, offering solace in her arms. Verena, mindful of Aunt Joanne's weakened condition, made sure not to put any weight on her.

Louis remained a silent witness to this poignant reunion. His wide eyes and furrowed brow betrayed his confusion as he observed Verena crying and addressing Aunt Joanne as "Aunt."

This was an unprecedented side of Verena, a stark contrast to the resilient and feisty woman he had known.

The room was filled with unspoken questions, and the atmosphere was charged with emotions, leaving Louis deeply perplexed by the secrets and emotions hidden beneath the surface.