"Then how about we go visit Great-grandpa today?" Lucas asked.Thaddeus felt relieved about Lucas' grasp on the situation and then turned to ask Layla, "Lucas has agreed. Do you have any different opinions, Layla?"Layla grinned. "I'd like to play with Great-grandpa too. Why don't we set off now?"Thaddeus pulled the two children closer and rubbed his chin on the tops of their heads. "We still need to ask Mommy if she's willing to go.""Okay. Mommy!" Layla shouted.Jessamine came back from watering the flowers. As soon as she stepped through the door, she heard Layla calling out. She put the can back in the bathroom and went to the study to look for Thaddeus and the children."Layla, are you calling for me?" Jessamine asked.Thaddeus stood up from the chair, his eyes filled with a pleading look. "Jessie, I just discussed with the two kids about visiting their great-grandpa today."He stood there looking at her intently, his demeanor clearly pleading to her, waiting for her answ
Thaddeus called Joe and asked a few questions, but didn't mention anything about bringing the children over.In the past, he had often upset Thomas during hospital visits. Eventually, Thomas explicitly banned him from visiting, saying that seeing him would only make him feel worse. So, whenever Thaddeus went to the hospital, he didn't dare show his face. He would only sneak a peek in the hallway and have a chat with the doctor about the patient's condition.This time, he felt confident he could earn some favor from Thomas. The idea of elevating one's status through kin was well-received by Thomas.The car stopped at the hospital.Thaddeus opened the door and helped the children out of the car. He reached out to take their hands. Layla cooperated and allowed Thaddeus to hold her hand. Lucas, however, resisted and ran over to Jessamine. In the end, both parents each held one child's hand as they walked toward the hospital.At that time, Thomas had just finished his IV treatment,
Thomas wondered if his hearing had gotten worse as he aged, making him confused in broad daylight. He sat there feeling lost after adjusting his blanket. He laughed at himself with a sigh, questioning why he was getting worked up for nothing. Thaddeus had promised to arrange a suitable time to meet, and if the children were coming, he would've definitely called in advance.Thomas picked up his phone and stared at it blankly for a moment before deciding to call Thaddeus. He wanted to ask when he would bring the children over. Before he passed away, he wanted to enjoy his time with his great-grandchildren. Otherwise, how would he explain it to his late wife in the afterlife?As the call connected, the doorbell rang outside.Thaddeus didn't hang up or answer the call. He simply held Layla's hand with his left hand and walked through the door.Thomas lived in a suite within the hospital, separated from the main corridor by two doors. The sound of the doorbell echoed, and even though
Thomas laughed heartily. "Great-grandpa is already so old. How can I still grow taller? If I did grow any more, I'd turn into a monster."Lucas sat on Thomas' lap and touched his arm. "Great-grandpa, you're too thin. You need to eat more."Thomas, after hearing what Lucas said, smiled even more happily and hugged the children tightly with both hands."Oh dear, you two little ones are so smart. You know that eating well helps you grow taller and stronger. Great-grandpa doesn't want to turn into a monster, but I'm already too old to grow taller. I'll just have to wait for you two to grow up."Joe pushed the lunch box forward again. Since Thomas didn't want to give in, he set his sights on the children instead. "Mr. Lucas and Ms. Layla, would you two like to join your great-grandpa for a meal?"With a small grin, Layla said, "Of course! I like Great-grandpa the most."Joe smoothly opened the lunchbox and placed the dishes on the table one by one, then took out the utensils.Lucas w
"Grandpa, I heard some news here and there. Noah used to have a very good relationship with his wife, but then there was an accident and his wife went missing," Thaddeus explained.Thomas' expression froze momentarily. He realized he had misunderstood earlier. Upon hearing about his daughter-in-law's accident, a trace of regret appeared in his expression. "Did that person… pass away?"Thaddeus shook his head. "I'm not sure. There was an avalanche and the person just disappeared."Thaddeus didn’t dare say that the person was gone. Firstly, he was afraid that Thomas would be heartbroken. Thomas was quite a faithful believer and couldn’t bear to hear about such cruel things. Secondly, he felt that the person going missing might not necessarily be a bad thing. Perhaps the person was living well somewhere else in the world.This was especially what he felt after reuniting with Jessamine—that nothing was absolute. Of course, he hoped that the mysterious young aunt, whom he had never me
As people aged, they often wanted their children and grandchildren to stay close by. However, Thomas wasn't that stubborn. As long as his children did well, he didn't mind much. He indeed wanted Thaddeus to go to Hajera with Jessamine, and it was also true that he felt a bit upset about it.Thaddeus wasn't stupid. Of course, he could see what Thomas was thinking. The older people got, the more they became like children in some ways, and he could tell that Thomas held back his true feelings."Grandpa, you can come with me to Hajera. I've told you before that I've bought an apartment there. It's a big, waterfront place. The air quality in the south is also better for your health, making it a good place for you to recuperate."When he recalled what Thaddeus had said last time, Thomas finally understood what Thaddeus meant when he said Thomas also had relatives in Hajera. It turned out there was a deeper meaning behind his words.Thomas turned his head away from the children in his arm
Noah covered his mouth and nose, coughed lightly, and spoke gently, "I've been taking the medication, and I'm feeling much better. The air quality in Zenville isn't very suitable for my condition. When the time comes, we're planning to go abroad…""Noah!" Jessamine couldn't help but shout, cutting off anything else he might have said. She knew Noah was evading the main issue and hadn't listened to her."I can't go abroad with you, so stop thinking about it. Let me tell you one more time. I am not the person you think I am. Your wife is missing, and I'm also very sorry that I never got the chance to meet her, but I am not her. How long are you going to keep deceiving yourself?"Noah froze for a moment, then suddenly let out a low chuckle. He looked at her steadily, his expression neither angry nor happy. "Jessie, stop messing around."For the first time, Jessamine felt that communicating with someone could be so difficult."Noah, put aside the matter of my current relationship stat
Noah didn't stay in the hospital room for long, as the children made him feel uncomfortable. He was feeling insanely jealous."Dad, since you have someone with you, I'll go take care of my things. Call me if you need anything," Noah said.Thomas waved his hand. "Go ahead. There's nothing much going on here."All he needed now was to see his precious great-grandchildren nearby. Everyone else was an unnecessary presence.After Thomas finished speaking, Noah gave Jessamine a meaningful look and then turned and left.He had just left when Thaddeus followed him out. Noah stopped at the elevator. He had heard the footsteps behind him but chose to ignore them.It was a firm decision for him to take Jessamine away, and others' opinions would only annoy him and wouldn't change his mind.The elevator doors opened, and Thaddeus asked in a cool, detached tone, "Want to chat for a bit?"Noah adjusted his glasses, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. "Is there really a need to chat?