Chapter 56

Lewis entered his mother's room, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm light on Lauren's peaceful face. She lay sleeping, her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. The sedative administered by Nurse Bella had taken effect, calming her agitation and allowing her to rest.

Lewis signaled to the nurse, who nodded understandingly and quietly left the room, leaving him alone with his mother. He sat down beside Lauren, taking her hand in his. Her fingers felt fragile and delicate in his grasp, a poignant reminder of the frailty of her condition.

As he held her hand, Lewis's mind began to wander back to the past. He remembered the stories his father had told him about Lauren's departure, about how Albert had forced her to leave when Lewis was just a month old. Albert had arranged a marriage between Lauren and another wealthy family, hoping to solidify their business ties. But Lauren's condition, which made it impossible for her to become pregnant, had become a point of contention. Her husband's family had been eager for an heir, and when they discovered Lauren's condition, they had sought a divorce.

Lewis's thoughts were a jumble of emotions, a mix of sadness, anger, and regret. He knew that his mother's inability to bear children had been a heavy burden, one that had been exacerbated by Albert's prioritization of the family business and reputation over her happiness. Lewis's father had been left to raise him alone, filled with resentment towards Lauren for abandoning them. But Lewis knew that his mother had been a victim of circumstance, forced to make difficult choices by Albert's tyranny.

As he sat with his mother, holding her hand and looking at her peaceful face, Lewis felt a deep sense of love and compassion for her. He knew that she had been through so much and that her current condition, living with Alzheimer's disease, was just another chapter in a life marked by hardship and struggle. Lewis squeezed her hand gently, his eyes lingering on her face as he sat in silence, lost in thought.

Lewis's eyes lingered on his mother's peaceful face, and he knew that she had always loved him and his father deeply. Despite being apart for so long, Lewis had never doubted his mother's love. He remembered the chance encounter they had once had, when he was just a teenager, and he had asked her for a necklace that he wanted to buy for Lily's birthday gift.

At that time, Lewis hadn't known that she was his mother, and she hadn't recognized him either. It was a brief moment of connection, but one that had left a lasting impression on Lewis. He recalled the way she had looked at him, her eyes distant and unaware, and it had been a poignant reminder of the life she had lived, marked by hardship and struggle.

Lewis's thoughts drifted back to his childhood and the years he had spent without his mother. His father had raised him alone, and Lewis had grown up with a deep sense of curiosity about the woman who had given birth to him. He had always wanted to meet her, to know her, but his father had refused to let him.

It wasn't until Albert had found Lewis and begged him to come home that Lewis had finally met his grandfather. But his father had refused to budge, and Lewis remembered the pain of being torn between his love for his father and his curiosity about his mother. Tragedy had struck when his father's life was cut short in an accident, leaving Lewis alone and adrift.

Albert had brought Lewis home when he was in high school and had enrolled him in a prestigious college. But Lewis had been determined to forge his own path, and he had worked hard to earn his own money, refusing to take a single penny from Albert. Even as the heir to a billionaire's fortune, Lewis had been resolute in his independence.

Now, as he looked at his mother's frail form, Lewis couldn't help but think about the journey that had brought them to this point. Her condition had worsened over the years, and Lewis's heart ached with every passing day. He squeezed her hand gently, his eyes filling with tears as he whispered, "I'm here, Mom. I'll always be here for you."

Lewis's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at his mother's peaceful face. He felt a deep ache in his heart, knowing that she wouldn't recognize him, wouldn't know that he was her son. Alzheimer's had taken away her memories, and with them, the chance for Lewis to experience the love and connection he had always craved from her.

He thought about all the years he had spent without his mother's love and affection. As a child, he had been separated from her, and even when they were reunited later in life, her condition had already begun to take its toll. Now, she looked at him with vacant eyes, unaware of the son who stood before her.

Lewis felt a pang of hurt and sadness, knowing that he would never get the love from his mother that he deserved. He had always wondered what it would be like to have a mother's love, to be comforted and nurtured by her. But Alzheimer's had taken that away from him, leaving him with a deep sense of longing and loss.

Despite the pain, Lewis held his mother's hand gently, trying to cherish the moments they had left together. He whispered softly, "I'm here, Mom. I'll always be here for you." Even if she couldn't recognize him, Lewis knew he had to be there for her, to care for her and love her, even if she couldn't love him back.

Just as Lewis was lost in thought, his mobile phone buzzed, breaking the silence. Not wanting to disturb his mother's sleep, he quickly disconnected the call without even looking at the screen, unaware that it was Lily on the other end.