Chapter 571
Meanwhile, Gabriela had been restless due to Eileen’s absence, hardly staying in her room, which kept Ruby constantly on her toes.
Luckily, Rylie was there to help. They took turns entertaining Gabriela, managing to keep the situation under control.
As the door opened, Gabriela looked up expectantly.
When she saw Eileen’s familiar figure, her face lit up with a smile.
But that smile quickly faded, and she started crying, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Eileen didn’t bother changing her shoes. She dropped her suitcase and immediately scooped Gabriela into her arms.
Gabriela clung tightly to Eileen’s neck, crying out loud.
“Don’t cry. Mommy will never leave you again,” Eileen reassured, as Ruby quickly dabbed at Gabriela’s tears.
Eileen gently patted Gabriela’s back, offering comfort, and then told Ruby, “I’m moving to Bayside City, and I’ll bring Gabriela with me.”
“Moving to Bayside City? Why?” Ruby looked at Eileen with confusion and asked, “Didn’t you find Bryan? Why didn’t he come back with you?”
Ruby instinctively glanced behind Eileen, only to realize that Bryan hadn’t returned with her.
Eileen held Gabriela close, perhaps to ease the pain of their separation or to draw strength from her daughter. Taking a deep breath, she tightened her hold on Gabriela.
Struggling to control her emotions, Eileen began explaining the situation in Bayside City to Ruby.
Ruby gasped. “He lost his memory?”
“He fell from the sky into the sea. It’s a miracle he’s alive,” Eileen responded, a hint of bitterness in her voice. As long as he was alive, she was relieved, but finding Bryan alive yet not remembering her, and treating another woman better, was excruciating.
Ruby noticed the change in Eileen’s mood. “You’re right. All that matters is he’s alive. You and Gabriela can move to Bayside City and still be a family there, but…”
Ruby hesitated, as if finding it hard to continue.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Eileen asked.
“The situation with Bailee is still a mess. I can’t leave right now,” Ruby replied, her eyes on Gabriela in Eileen’s arms, her reluctance evident. With Winona still in a coma, the issues with Bailee and Huey had been left unresolved, and Ruby’s meeting with Frankie had been postponed because of Bryan’s accident.
“I understand. Mom, you can stay here with Bailee. Call me if you need anything,” Eileen said, biting her lip. “Don’t put off Bailee’s matters any longer. We don’t know when Winona will wake up. Bailee will suffer if this drags on. She needs to make a decision soon.”
At that moment, Bailee had to make her own choice, though others could offer their advice.
Seeing Ruby’s distressed expression, Eileen continued, “Mom, Bailee is an adult now. She has her own choices and path. You can help her weigh the pros and cons, but you can’t make decisions for her.”