Chapter 208 Daddy, Hug
After leaving the art exhibition, Olivia had been worried about Bianca.
Since saying those words, Bianca had been obviously very down.
Olivia didn't know what to do. Once they were outside with fewer people around, she looked at Andrew helplessly, hoping he could help.
Andrew understood what she meant.
After giving Olivia a reassuring look, he walked up to Bianca and said gently, "Bianca, do you remember what I told you before?"
Bianca heard his voice and looked up at him.
Andrew said slowly, "When you're unhappy, you need to say it out loud. Don't keep it bottled up inside, or your mommy will worry."
Bianca blinked, gradually coming back to herself. She looked up at him, then at Olivia, pressed her little lips together and stayed silent for a few seconds before asking quietly, "Did I... do something wrong just now?
When I said... I don't want daddy."
Bianca felt a bit regretful about saying those words.
Since she could remember, Olivia had always taught her to respect her elders.
But today, she hadn't been good and said those things.
Bianca was also a bit afraid that Olivia would blame her.
Andrew patted Bianca's head, comforting her, "Bianca, you protected your mommy today. What's wrong with that?
Someone bullied you both, and you bravely stood up. That shows you're a little girl who can tell right from wrong. I want to praise you - you're amazing!"
Olivia also saw her daughter's worry.
She also said gently to her daughter, "I don't think you did anything wrong either. Not only that, I'm actually very happy!
Sweetie, you finally know how to fight back and protect me. You're a very brave baby!
From now on, I hope you can keep it up. When you don't like something, bravely say 'no'!"
At this point, Olivia's heart melted.
She picked up Bianca and gently kissed her face, "Bianca, you should do what you like, be happy, be strong inside, and don't let unimportant things affect your decisions."
'Don't be like I used to be, living without a sense of self.' Olivia didn't say this last sentence out loud, but she believed Bianca would understand what she meant.
Bianca nodded, half understanding. After knowing she hadn't done anything wrong, she threw herself into Olivia's arms, burying her little face in her chest.
She had been affected after all.
Seeing her like this, Olivia felt terrible and wished she could destroy Michael and the others!
For the rest of the day, Bianca no longer had the excitement she'd had when leaving the house that morning.
Even though both Olivia and Andrew were with her, the little girl seemed down the whole time.
This state continued until lunch, when Andrew gave her some guidance and she seemed much better.
However, Olivia could still tell that Bianca's mood hadn't completely recovered, which kept her heart tight with worry.
Because of this, Andrew canceled the other afternoon plans and sent them home first.
While the car was still on the road, Bianca fell asleep in Olivia's arms.
Looking at Bianca's little brow still furrowed in sleep, Olivia asked Andrew with some concern, "Mr. Hamilton, Bianca's been so down today. Could her mental state be affected by what happened this morning and cause a relapse?"
She had finally seen her child become healthy, and Olivia was really anxious.
Andrew understood her worry.
But he didn't want to hide anything from Olivia, so he told her honestly, "Yes. Do you remember what I first told you? Bianca's autism comes from a lack of love.
Under my treatment, her ability to perceive emotions is already countless times stronger than before.
Today, that child called Michael daddy right in front of her.
And Michael was just like she remembered - once again taking someone else's side. For Bianca, this is an indelible hurt.
In this situation, her mental state will definitely be affected.
No matter what, they're father and daughter.
Even if Bianca says she doesn't need a daddy, that's not really true.
She's just lowered her expectations, or rather, her subconscious has cut out that need.
Because she knows she can't have it, and also, she doesn't want you to be sad."
Andrew rubbed the sleeping Bianca's head and said, "My treatment is helping her correct her mental state. This is a long battle. Bianca is a child with rich emotions, and some things can't really be thrown away overnight."
Olivia understood what he meant.
Bianca had still been affected by this.
She looked at Andrew helplessly and asked, "So... what should I do?"
What could she do to help Bianca?
Andrew shook his head and said soothingly, "You don't need to do anything, just be with her.
As I said before, her autism is because of lack of love. You just keep staying with her to slowly heal her, until she completely doesn't need it anymore. She'll get better."
His voice was gentle but carried a strength that somehow calmed the anxiety in Olivia's heart.
She nodded and said, "Okay, I'll stay with her."
She looked down at Bianca in her arms and said silently in her heart, 'I'll always be by your side, Bianca. Don't be afraid.'
Twenty minutes later, the car arrived outside Olivia's apartment complex.
When getting out of the car, Olivia remembered how Bianca had been in a bad state after sleeping last time.
Out of concern, she asked Andrew, "Mr. Hamilton, do you have anything or work this afternoon?
If not, could I... invite you up for coffee?"
Andrew saw through her thoughts right away, "Are you worried Bianca might have a stress reaction when she wakes up?"
"Yes."
Olivia nodded without denying it, and said to Andrew, "Last time when she had a fever, she wasn't right after waking up. I'm afraid she... But if you're busy, that's fine."
Thinking back on what happened today, Olivia actually felt quite embarrassed.
The man before her was noble and distinguished, someone who stood high above everyone else.
But she had let him witness such a ridiculous mess.
Andrew looked at her for a few seconds and said to Olivia, "I cleared my whole day for Bianca. I don't have other plans this afternoon."
Hearing this answer, Olivia's eyes lit up, her expression relaxed, and she quickly said, "Thank you so much!"
Andrew didn't say anything. He walked two steps closer to Olivia, suddenly leaned over, and said gently, "Let me hold her."
Before Olivia could speak, the distance between them suddenly closed.
The man's figure loomed over her, and Olivia felt her heartbeat skip.
When she came to her senses, Bianca was already in his arms.
Watching Andrew walk out first, the messy thoughts in Olivia's mind also disappeared. She quickly followed him upstairs.
When they got home, Bianca still hadn't woken up.
Olivia had Andrew put Bianca in her room.
Then she brought him a cup of coffee and invited him to sit down.
They had just chatted for a few sentences when the doorbell suddenly rang.
Yara went to open the door.
The visitor was David.
He came carrying two paintings, saying, "Dr. Garcia, when I picked up Bianca's painting, the exhibition said Dr. Garcia had another painting, so I brought it back too."
"Ah..."
Olivia was stunned for a moment, then remembered which painting David had brought back, and suddenly felt a bit flustered. "Sorry for making trouble for you."
In front of Andrew, Olivia felt a bit embarrassed.
Andrew raised an eyebrow and asked, "You bought something else?"
Hearing this, Olivia looked a bit awkward.
But this painting would have to be given out sooner or later.
Rather than finding another excuse to give it next time, better to just do it today!
After thinking this through, Olivia nodded and said, "Yes, I bought another one. Do you want to see it?"
Andrew noticed her eyes were a bit evasive, and became interested, "Is it for me?"
Olivia was holding a water glass, about to take a sip, but gripped it a bit tight from nervousness.
How was Andrew so smart, guessing right away?
But since she'd decided to give it, she didn't deny it. She simply nodded and said, "Yes, when I saw this painting today, I thought it really suited you, so I bought it. I don't really understand art, I just hope you won't mind."
David had already put down the painting. Andrew walked over, rubbed his fingers on the packaging, and smiled, "Something bought for eight million dollars - of course I won't mind."
Olivia hadn't even realized how he knew about the eight million dollars.
She just went to get scissors and came over to unwrap the packaging.
Soon, a complete painting appeared before Andrew.
He held his coffee, drinking while carefully looking it over, then commented casually, "Though the ninth heaven is good, the mortal world is prosperous and dazzling with flowers - even God cannot be immune and wants to break his vows..."
Olivia thought for a few seconds, wondering if this was his evaluation of the painting.
As expected of Andrew, seeing the essence of this painting at a glance.
But she felt something wasn't quite right?
Perhaps seeing the doubt in her eyes, a smile flashed in the man's eyes as he said, "I really like this painting. Thank you."
Hearing this, Olivia's anxious heart could finally relax.
She immediately smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it!"
She no longer dwelled on that strange feeling, and the two of them admired the newly bought painting together.
After looking for a while, Olivia went to unwrap the one Bianca had chosen.
Seeing this incomplete sunflower painting up close, Olivia felt it was a bit of a pity, "If it weren't for that small damaged part in the corner, this painting would be really perfect."
Andrew said beside her, "If it's reworked, it's not impossible to restore, but sometimes imperfection is also a kind of art. It's fine like this."
Olivia nodded without disagreeing.
As they chatted, they also helped hang Bianca's painting in the art room.
Just as they finished, they heard Bianca crying from the room.
Except when she was still a baby, Bianca basically never cried when waking up. This scared Olivia.
She hurried to Bianca's room. "Bianca, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
Hearing Olivia's voice, Bianca didn't stop. She sat on the bed with tears in her eyes, crying miserably.
Olivia's heart was breaking. She was about to reach out and hold her.
Before she could, she saw the little girl stretch out two lotus-root-like arms and call out to Andrew pitifully, "Daddy, hold me..."