Chapter 3 After dinner , the private doctor came by as usual to check Gabrielle's eyes . " Mr. Ferney , Dr. Giblan had an emergency , so I'm - filling in for him . I've gone over the medical records . If Mrs. Ferney keeps taking her meds regularly , there's a good chance she'll get her eyesight back . " Standing outside the door , she listened to the doctor talk about her condition with Leonardo , feeling a heavy ache in her chest . What did it matter if she could see again ? She and Leonardo could never go back to how things used to be . In this game full of lies and tricks , she'd rather stay " blind . " For the next five days , all she wanted was to leave Boston without any fuss . Then ... she would never see him again , in this life or the next . There was a moment of silence in the room before he said calmly , " No need " Didn't Dr. Giblan tell you ? For the last five years , I've only had him prescribe basic nutritional supplements for my wife , " If she gets her sight back , where does that leave Alaina ? " A sharp crack echoed through the air . The diamond ring on Gabrielle's finger snapped off from her rough 289 Vouchers Chapter 3 tugging as blood started oozing between her fingers . She hurried back to her room in shame , trembling all over without even realizing it . In her panic , she accidentally knocked over the wedding photo on the table . In that picture , Leonardo was leaning in a bit , giving the girl a sweet kiss on her forehead . Tears suddenly started falling to the floor . As she cried , she couldn't help but burst into wild laughter , her stomach shaking and bringing up waves of bitter feelings . " Hahaha ! Leonardo , you really are something ! " So all those dark days and nights - when she felt lost , helpless , scared , and timid - were all part of Leonardo's plan . When there were no more tears left to cry , she yanked the wedding photo out of its frame and shoved it into the paper shredder . The moment it got torn apart into little pieces , all those sweet memories of her and Leonardo began to fade away slowly in her mind . " Honey , what are you doing ? " Gabrielle dumped the white shreds into the trash can . With a dry and hoarse voice , she said , " Nothing much . Just getting rid of some mistakes . " Leonardo frowned at the shredded paper . It felt oddly familiar to him for some reason . Chapter 3 288 Vouchers But before he could think about it any longer , Alaina walked in holding a bouquet of flowers . His attention immediately shifted to her . She stuffed the flowers into Gabrielle's arms . " Happy birthday , Ms. Padgett ! " Gabrielle was overwhelmed by the strong smell of the bouquet , coughing like crazy until tears started rolling down her cheeks . Alaina even covered her eyes and dragged her to the dining table , " Ready ? Surprise ! " On the white marble table were a few pieces of spare ribs swimming in blood foam and some greens that had been stir - fried until they were burnt black . It was so ridiculous it almost felt ironic . Alaina slapped her forehead in frustration . " Oh ! I totally forgot Ms. Padgett can't see ... " Before she could finish , she quickly covered her mouth , looking like she realized she'd messed up big time . Leonardo immediately tried to reassure her with sign language . " It's okay . Gabrielle won't mind . " Alaina hung her head low and sighed , " Why can't I do anything right ? " But it's all good . I also made a mango cake for Ms. Padgett ! " 288 ( Vouchers Chapter 3 Seeing that , Leonardo's eyes filled with compassion as he urged , " Honey ? Come on , hurry up and eat the cake . " Gabrielle stood there , fists clenched tight . Suddenly , she felt this heavy weariness wash over her , and her voice came out dry and rough like it had been scraped by gravel . MAN 4 . " Leonardo , today isn't my birthday . It's the anniversary of our child's death . ས་ དོན་ ང་ ནང " I'm also allergic to mangoes . Leonardo froze for a moment . A flicker of regret flashed in his eyes . " Honey , I ... " She ignored his attempt to stop her and turned away to leave . Back in her room , she shut the door hard enough to block out both the woman's sobs and the man's comforting words . She didn't know how long she'd been asleep when a strange noise from downstairs woke her up . Dazedly opening her eyes , she spotted someone familiar . Leonardo was sitting by her bed with a gentle look on his face . " Honey , you're awake . " I made carrot cake for you . Want to get up and have some ? " Gabrielle gently pulled away from him . " No thanks , I'm not hungry . " His hand stopped mid - air as he let out a soft sigh . " Come on honey , don't lie to me . You're still mad at me , right ? Chapter 3 288 Vouchers " As soon as things calm down around here , I'll take you to a musical , okay ? " Gabrielle turned her head away, staring at the ends of her hair and staying quiet . Noticing this , the guy pressed his lips together , his brows knitting slightly . He took Gabrielle's hand . " Honey , the girl has set up a beast show to say sorry to you . " She frowned a bit , ready to say no , but Leonardo scooped her up without thinking twice and carried her downstairs . The night of the first lunar month was freezing cold . Gabrielle was just in thin pajamas , her face was pale from the chill , though it was too dark for anyone to really see it . She shivered a few times and then watched as the man walked straight over to Alaina with a coat in his arms ... He helped Alaina put on a thick protective suit , then gloves and a helmet . Finally , he gave Alaina's cheek a gentle kiss . " Alaina , don't push yourself too hard . You and the baby are what matters most . " The wind carried his soft voice right into Gabrielle's ears like a heavy punch . As soon as Alaina lifted the cloth covering the cage , Gabrielle's eyes widened sharply . In "A Lady Hard to Please" by CrushReels, a single mother makes a poignant return to the city she fled seven years ago. Her mission: to secure treatment for her son's leukemia, setting the stage for an emotional journey of love and resilience amidst past heartbreak. As her ex-lover reenters her life upon hearing of her return, old wounds resurface, sparking a complex web of emotions and decisions that delve deep into themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the enduring power of love. This modern romance novel stands out for its raw portrayal of familial bonds tested by adversity, offering readers a compelling exploration of human strength and vulnerability. With a captivating blend of heart-wrenching moments and tender revelations, "A Lady Hard to Please" promises a captivating read that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a tale that transcends boundaries and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.