Love Unspoken

Quinn's lips pressed into a thin line, a silent admission that she couldn't accept the situation at face value. As she lay there, Ariel's absence was a glaring reminder of the harsh reality. The mounting hospital bills were left unattended, a stark contrast to the reassurances that everything was alright.

Juliet's voice broke through her thoughts, "You're here now. Don't you have to return? Won't Alexander be furious?"

Quinn pushed the thought aside. She was already at the hospital, and if not for this visit, Juliet's fate might have been different. Shaking her head, she offered Juliet a comforting glance. "It's okay, don't worry."

Yet, how could it be okay? Alexander's threat lingered in her mind. She wasn't certain if he was merely trying to intimidate her, but Quinn had an inkling that he was serious.

"I'll wait until your IV is done, then I'll arrange for a nurse to look after you," Quinn offered.

Juliet waved her hands dismissively. "No need, no need. Don't squander money on that. At my age, I'm just grateful you came. I was just pondering, if I passed away without seeing you one last time, could I rest in peace? But now I'm relieved; I've let go of all my worries."

Quinn's eyes welled up at Juliet's words. Despite their lack of blood relation, in that moment, they felt like family, their bond transcending the conventional definition of kinship. They were both people without a home, and only those who've experienced such loss could truly comprehend each other's sorrow and suffering.

"Okay, Quinn, no more tears. Grandma's happy to see you. You should be happy too." Juliet extended a hand, attempting to wipe away Quinn's tears.

With a sniffle, Quinn lifted her hand, roughly brushing away her tears, and managed a small smile.

Juliet reciprocated the smile, "Such a good kid."

Yet, their smiles were laced with an underlying bitterness.

"I'm not a good kid," Quinn confessed. "If I were, you wouldn't be here. I'm sorry, Juliet."

"Don't apologize. You've done so well. I'm truly grateful." Juliet's words were a soothing balm, a whispered promise.

"Quinn, you will be happy. I'll bless you."

Quinn's tears flowed harder. She shook her head frantically, gesturing, "I don't need your blessings. I just want you to get well."

Juliet offered a sad smile, unable to make such a promise. Their hands clung to one another tightly, but Quinn had to leave, her tears a constant reminder of the painful reality.

She rose to her feet, wiping her tears, and poured a glass of water for Juliet. Then she set out to find a nurse. Ensuring Juliet was taken care of was the only thing she could do.

The hospital offered a range of nursing services, with prices varying from a hundred to five hundred a day. Quinn managed to find a reasonably priced caregiver, costing around three hundred a day. After making the payment, she relayed some instructions to the caregiver.

"Don't worry, miss, everything will be fine," the caregiver assured her.

Quinn finally exhaled a sigh of relief. She offered the caregiver a small smile of gratitude. But as she turned around, she saw Alexander entering through the door.

He looked like he had weathered a storm, his swift strides seemingly bringing the wind with him. Despite the distance between them, Quinn could feel the icy aura emanating from him.

Her hand instinctively tightened, and she stood frozen in place, her gaze locked on the figure advancing towards her.

Alexander approached her, his tall frame towering over her. He didn't utter a word, but the anger radiating from him was palpable.