Chapter 40

Things aren't getting any better as Tiffany and Howard find themselves being worlds apart. They're both experiencing their own problems and as the pressures mount, it takes a toll on their relationship. But when Howard finds himself being backed into a corner, he begins to make rash decisions and in the end, no one is spared from a broken heart.
Tiffany is at her house and with her grandfather who says that he knows his health is getting worse and says he has no regrets about his life. Tiffany thinks that he's the best grandfather in the entire world and the most talented man to her. He's happy to hear that but it doesn't change the fact that he's getting older and asks if she'd be willing to take over the family business. Tiffany looks worried and asks for some time to think about it.
Bernice is still in the hospital with Howard staying by her bedside. Susanne wakes him up and asks to speak with him outside. She tells him that she can get discharged from the hospital soon and Howard looks drained. He wonders why she wanted to speak with him and she brings up about what's happened between them, even bringing up Victoria and points out that it seems like Bernice family owed him from a past life.
Howard explains that he simply thought she was being childish about the entire thing, he thought Bernice just liked him because they grew up together but susanne wants Howard to guarantee that nothing will happen to Bernice again. Howard angrily asks if susanne is telling him he can't be in a relationship at all just because someone likes him or if he should date someone he doesn't have feelings for.
Susanne tells him that Bernice is committing suicide for him and asks if he wants to see her die. Of course he doesn't because he's a reasonable person but susanne points out that Bernice is the only daughter left from her family and puts Howard in a difficult position.
Bernice awakes to susanne by her side. She says she doesn't know why she did it but knows that Howard has been ignoring her since Tiffany came and figures she should just disappear in order not to be a burden. Susanne tells her not to do that and tells her she's indirectly helping Tiffany to succeed if she decides to leave the Earth. Bernice doesn't know what else she can do and figures she should just die again. But susanne promises to think of a solution and tells her that no matter how much Howard and Tiffany love each other, if they can't see each other, their love will fade and tells Bernice to get ready to become Howard's wife.
Howard is sleeping as he's going to the office with Daniel, probably the first time he's left the hospital in days. He isn't really listening to Daniel talking about his new album and asks Daniel if he would take responsibility for a girl who needs him to take care of her and gave up on his true love. Daniel begins to tell him a story of his youth but Howard is already passed out back asleep.
He even sleeps in the recording studio and finally wakes when it's night to a call from susanne who tells him that something bad has happened to Bernice and to come to the hospital. He rushes there to learn that Bernice wrote him a note where she says that her life would be meaningless without him and the fact that he didn't return her love so she decided to leave the world. Susanne says that she decided to pull out the tube and says that she doesn't care what's between him and Tiffany but that he's known Bernice for longer, growing up together, so he can't do it to them. It doesn't help that Bernice mother is sobbing on the side hoping her daughter pulls out of it.
Howard apologizes to her mother when the doctor comes out to tell them that Bernice is alright and can be transferred to another room later. He does warn them that when she wakes up, it's better not to provoke her mental state. Once he leaves, Bernice mother says that she doesn't blame Howard for the accident that happened to Victoria and begs him to help them since they can't lose Bernice, too. Howard tries to explain but he gets cut off by Susanne who promises that Howard will take care of everything and made that promise before. So Bernice mother brings up the thought of marriage when hearing that Howard promised he'd take care of Bernice in this life. Howard looks like he's about to disagree or further explain but susanne stops him again and asks him if he wants the same thing to happen twice. Now backed into a corner, Howard can't say anything as susanne says that Howard hasn't proposed yet. Such a terrible lady.
Tiffany is standing by her grandfather's bedside as the doctor checks on him. He informs her that his condition doesn't look too good and says that the pressure and intensity of his job must be catching up to him with his age. Even the secretary talks about the family business and how difficult it must be for him to manage all of it given his age and says that Grandpa needs Tiffany more than she may think. She sees it firsthand when he asks about the business as soon as he wakes up and he attempts to work when he hears that they're currently in a bidding war. Seeing his state, Tiffany asks to take over the contract so her grandfather can rest and not worry about it.
So she heads to his office and begins to work late into the night. Howard is still at the hospital that night and heads to the waiting room. He texts Tiffany who calls him in response. The air is a bit awkward between them as Tiffany asks about Bernice condition and Howard explains it. Tiffany, who doesn't know the mental pressure that Howard is under, calls Bernice manipulative and Howard, who is already under the immense mental pressure and tired, asks Tiffany not to say.
Tiffany wonders how someone who tried to kill themselves because of love could be helped by Howard, thinking she should be in counseling. Tiffany, who is also under pressure because of the news about her grandfather falling sick and the constant conversation about her grandfather's age and the family business, asks if he just called her to talk about how pitiful Bernice is. They begin to have a slight argument about each other as she asks if Howard was ever concerned about her or her grandfather or even if she's returning to Cornwall city at all and poses the question of what he'll do if she can't return.