Chapter 53 Mr. Hamilton is Both Gentle and Powerful
That night, thanks to Olivia's persistence, Victoria and Vaughn ended up staying over at their house.
The next morning, as soon as Olivia woke up, she heard the faint sound of music drifting through the window.
She quickly got out of bed, pulled back the curtains, and saw Bianca practicing the harmonica in the yard. Victoria and Vaughn were standing right beside her.
Bianca had just finished a tune, and Victoria and Vaughn were clapping enthusiastically.
Victoria didn't hold back her praise. "Our little darling is amazing! She can play the harmonica so smoothly and beautifully!"
Vaughn chimed in, "I love it too. Bianca, you're wonderful!"
Bianca's relationship with Victoria and Vaughn had grown quite close, and she was visibly delighted by their compliments.
The sunlight poured down, casting a warm glow over the scene. The gloom that had weighed on Olivia's heart overnight dissipated significantly.
She quickly went back to her room to freshen up, then headed downstairs to join Victoria and Vaughn for breakfast.
As for Michael, he had left early in the morning and clearly had no intention of joining them for breakfast. Olivia didn't mind.
Later, after breakfast, she got ready to take Bianca to school.
It was Bianca's first day of school, but since Olivia had already familiarized herself with the environment, she wasn't too worried.
In fact, it was Victoria and Vaughn, who had been teachers for decades, who were particularly anxious!
On the way there, Victoria reminisced, "I remember when you were little, on your first day of school. I was so worried you wouldn't adapt. I never thought I'd experience this again after all these years. Can Bianca really handle it?"
Vaughn was equally concerned. "Is the school reliable? Can they really help Bianca recover? What are the teachers like? And the kids there, will they be easy to get along with?"
He fired off a series of questions and couldn't help but recall, "You cried for a whole week when you started school. Every time you came home, your eyes were swollen. It broke my heart. Will Bianca be the same?"
Seeing Victoria and Vaughn's worried expressions, Olivia quickly reassured them. "The school is great. Both Evelyn and I have checked it out. The teachers are wonderful too. As I mentioned last night, Bianca's improvement is thanks to an excellent psychologist, and this school was recommended by him. It's trustworthy!
As for the kids, they're like Bianca, with their own psychological challenges, but they're very well-behaved. I took her there to meet them a few days ago, and she got along fine."
"Is that so?" Victoria and Vaughn finally felt a bit more at ease after hearing this. Olivia comforted them, "Everything will be fine!"
Despite her words, later, when she handed Bianca over to Benjamin, she couldn't help but feel a surge of worry.
Bianca had never been away from her to face a new environment alone.
A few days ago, with Olivia by her side, Bianca adapted well. But today, without her, what if Bianca retreated?
The thought made Olivia start to ramble, "Mr. White, Bianca takes a while to adapt to new environments. If she can't find the restroom, please guide her. Also, when she eats, she might get lost in her own world and forget to eat or drink, so please keep an eye on her. And she..."
Olivia rattled off a long list, her usually composed face showing rare anxiety.
Benjamin didn't mind Olivia's lengthy instructions. He listened patiently, understanding the concerns of a parent and showing absolute respect.
When Olivia finally finished, he spoke gently, "Ms. Garcia, don't worry. The teachers here will take care of everything you mentioned. They have extensive experience and won't miss a thing, so rest assured and leave Bianca to us."
He then added with a slight smile, "Besides, she was personally recommended to me by Andrew. I wouldn't neglect her."
Olivia paused, "You mean... Mr. Hamilton?"
"Who else?" Benjamin responded with a teasing tone, then glanced at his watch. "It's almost time for class. If there's nothing else, I'll take Bianca in now."
Hearing this, Olivia didn't stop him. She quickly said goodbye to Bianca. Bianca seemed to trust Benjamin a lot, waving to Olivia before following him.
Watching Bianca walk away, Olivia felt a mix of reluctance and relief. Her Bianca was becoming braver, showing no signs of retreat. As a mother, she needed to learn to let go and let her daughter grow step by step. Only then could Bianca have a chance to return to normal.
Victoria and Vaughn, standing beside her, were also reluctant to leave, their eyes red, even though Bianca was out of sight.
Knowing they were worried, Olivia decided to message Benjamin. "Mr. White, could we stay and secretly observe Bianca's situation? I promise we won't be seen or disrupt the teachers or other kids."
Benjamin's reply was prompt. "Of course!"
Olivia thanked him repeatedly, thinking Benjamin was truly a good person. And so was Andrew! So kind and capable, it was no wonder they were friends!
Later, Olivia, Victoria, and Vaughn hid outside, secretly observing Bianca.
The panic and fear they had anticipated were nowhere to be seen. Instead, Bianca quickly adapted to the environment, showed interest in exploring new things, and her interactions with the other kids went from timid to familiar. Of course, this was also thanks to Benjamin's personal guidance.
By the end of the morning, Bianca hadn't cried or asked for Olivia. Olivia felt completely at ease and finally left with Victoria and Vaughn.
As they left the school, it was lunchtime. Since Victoria and Vaughn rarely visited, Olivia took them to a local restaurant known for its Emerald City specialties.
On the way, Victoria couldn't help but ask, "Is Michael's work really that busy? He didn't even come for Bianca's first day of school, such an important event?"
Vaughn, already upset with Michael's behavior the previous night, added, "He's always been less attentive to Bianca because of work, but this time, it's for her treatment. Why is he still so indifferent? And the rest of the Johnson family hasn't even called to check on Bianca. Do they not care about her at all?"
Olivia's grip on the steering wheel tightened at these words. She struggled to respond, "No, don't think that way..."
"How can we not?" Vaughn was visibly irritated. "Yes, I know their business is demanding, and we understand that. But no matter how busy, he should find some time for his child, right? Bianca is at an age where she needs her parents' company. You're handling everything at home, so what's his role as a father? Can't he see how hard you're working and how thin you've become?"
Talking about this, Vaughn couldn't help but feel heartbroken.