Chapter 557: Why Thank Me?

Lucas had fallen back asleep in the hospital bed, still weak and healing.

Bianca stared at her phone, the screen’s glow lighting up her face. The numbers were grim—Phoenix Alliance Group’s stocks had dropped more than 4%, almost hitting the lowest limit again.

The market’s closing bell brought only a short break. It wasn't a real relief. Today’s 9.7% drop had already cost billions and left a heavy cloud over the company’s future. Bianca felt the pressure of tomorrow's building. One more bad day could take Phoenix Alliance Group out of Dave’s hands and drown him in debt.

The stock had to rise tomorrow. It was the only hope. But Bianca was drained. She had given everything she had just to keep things going.

She gripped her phone tighter, holding on to her trust in Dave. But doubt was creeping in, bringing quiet fear. She remembered the times he had guided her through hard moments. Now, all she could do was stand by and watch, wishing she had the strength to be his support.

Lost in thought, Bianca was startled by the sudden ring of her phone. The sound cut through the silence. It was Leonel. They rarely talk to each other. He had buried himself in his work at the research institute, and with everything happening lately, Bianca hadn’t reached out either.

She walked into a silent corner and answered softly. “Leonel.”

But his voice came through with tension. “Bianca, are you with Dave again? He’s the CEO of… Phoenix Alliance Group?!”

“What?” Her mind went blank for a second. Then she remembered the press conference last time. Dave’s identity had been revealed. It wasn’t a secret anymore. But Leonel’s delayed reaction surprised her.

“I’ve been stuck in a major drug development project,” he said quickly. “I didn’t know what was going on. How did things fall apart so fast?”

Bianca’s chest tightened. Her brother had finally stepped out of his world of research, only to find everything around her falling apart.

She took a deep breath. “Leonel, if you’re asking, then you probably already know. Yes, it’s true. Dave is the CEO of Phoenix Alliance Group. And he’s my partner.”

There was a pause on the line. Then came his voice, shaky with disbelief. “You… This—” He couldn’t find the right words. “Bianca, how? Wasn’t he just a poor kid? How did he end up running Phoenix Alliance Group?”

“Leonel, this isn’t something I can explain in one call,” she said softly, exhaustion in her tone. “I’ll tell you everything soon.”

Leonel’s next words came fast, sharp, and full of anger. “You better explain everything clearly. I’m giving you a few days to sort it out.”

Bianca let out a soft sigh, barely louder than the rustle of leaves. “I will… once I get through all of this.”

Leonel gritted his teeth and uttered coldly again. “You’ve seen what’s happening with Phoenix Alliance Group, right? The stock’s crashing. Bankruptcy’s right around the corner.”

Bianca answered with a soft, “Mhm.”

Leonel didn’t hold back anymore. “He better not drag you down with him! How could he let this happen? You should leave now, save yourself while you still can. When everything falls apart, you have to think of yourself first. You’re not even married. What are you doing?”

“Leonel!” Bianca snapped angrily. “I love Dave. I’m not walking away from him. If you can’t support us, then please, don’t make it worse.” She let out a bitter laugh. “Not that I ever expected your help.”

Leonel was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by Bianca’s sharp response. When he finally spoke, his voice was bitter. “I’m just trying to protect you. It was just a suggestion. You don’t have to listen to me… Fine. You must have found your great love. Sorry for being so shallow. But don’t come to me when Phoenix Alliance Group falls and leaves you with nothing!”

The call ended without warning, leaving Bianca alone with Leonel’s anger and misunderstanding.

She leaned against the wall, tears welling in her eyes. Her heart felt heavy, but she quickly wiped her face. She had no time to fall apart. Strength was all she had left. Sadness could wait, and she had to keep moving.

She took a deep breath. If she had to get a loan to keep the stocks from crashing, she would. She would buy Dave time. No matter what it took.

Calm again, she turned to head back into the hospital room.

Just then, her phone rang. It was her mother—Madison.

Madison was probably calling because of the Phoenix Alliance Group’s stock.

Bianca, still upset after her argument with her brother, didn’t want to fight with her mom too. She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself, and answered the call. “Mom, weren’t you on a business trip? What made you call me?” Her voice was as calm as she could manage.

Madison had been busy ever since she took over Cherish. Just last week, she flew abroad for a business trip.

“Bianc, I’m at a fashion show in Paris. I saw some outfits that would look amazing on you. I’ll have them sent over.”

Bianca felt a little better. At least her mom didn’t bring up anything about the Phoenix Alliance Group.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, Mom."

"Why thank me? I haven’t chosen clothes for you in years. Whatever you didn’t have before, I’ll make sure you have now. If you ever need anything, just ask. Don’t treat me like a stranger, okay?"

Madison’s words touched Bianca. Her voice softened. "Mom, was there something else you wanted to talk about?"

Bianca had a feeling the call wasn’t just casual, so she gently pushed for more.

"Actually, yes, there is," Madison said, still sounding upbeat. "Your brother mentioned you might need some money. He earned a lot from his latest project, and with some help from my savings, we can put together a good amount for you. It’s not a huge sum, but I hope it’ll help."

Bianca froze. “My brother called you? He… isn’t he…”

“Bianc, we’re family,” Madison said gently. “Your brother might be a bit difficult and full of pride, but he’s still your brother. How could he just let you face everything alone? No matter what you go through, we’ll always be here for you.”

Bianca’s eyes welled up. She felt a deep wave of regret for what she had said to her brother earlier. Even after everything, she wasn’t alone. She had friends, someone who loved her, and most of all—family.

Sniffling, she murmured, “Mom, can you please say sorry to him for me? And… thank him too?”