Chapter 404
in the car, a heavy silence enveloped them.
In
Leopold chose to remain reticent.
He was unmoved by Joel’s attempts to coax an explanation from him.
Perhaps it was the difficulty in finding the right words that kept him silent..
As friends, they understood the delicate balance of not pushing too hard.
Joel let out a sigh, breaking the silence with a poignant reflection. Regardless of what transpired before, Zola’s return. necessitates seizing the moment. Life’s brevity demands decisive action, for once opportunities slip by, they may be lost forever.
Leopold, finally breaking his silence, posed a question to Joel, “Do you believe I still have the right to approach Zola?
“Leopold, why don’t you?”
“I have a limp. Leopold’s emotions were visibly turbulent.
“Could it be that this is why Zola disappeared for three years? That you never sought her out?”
Joel’s words hung heavy in the air as Leopold silently nodded in acknowledgment.
“Do you truly believe Zola to be so shallow?” Joel’s voice betrayed a hint of agitation, though he swiftly added. “When I escorted her home today, she genuinely didn’t know about your condition. She thought it was a temporary injury.”
Leopold’s hand unconsciously tightened.
“She didn’t show any aversion, just surprise,” Joel hastened to explain. “I genuinely don’t believe she’s as superficial as you fear.
“But the more one cares for another, the more they question their own worthiness and qualifications to be by their side…” It was the first time he had laid bare his innermost thoughts, revealing the depths of his love and insecurities.
And so it was…
It was a testament to the complexities of love.
His love for her was so profound yet intertwined with feelings of inadequacy.
“If you never dare to try, how can you ascertain your worth? How can you be sure she won’t accept you?” Joel’s disappointment was palpable.
If he cared for her, he should pursue her boldly.
Even in failure, there was only the lesson learned.
However, the truth was that…..
Jori was quite timid.
Ever since discovering Zola’s affection for Leopold, Joel had buried his feelings, fearing rejection.
Had it not been for Zola’s accident, he might have remained in silent anguish.
However, his hesitation stemmed from the fear of losing even he friendship with Zola Just like now, although there was no
ill will between them, they could never return to what they once were
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Chapter 404
As for Zola and Leopold….
In their current state, what remained to fear?
Leopold withheld his decision from Joel, recognizing that matters of the heart defied external counsel.
It was a realization that dawned upon him as he sat in solitude upon his return home.
He contemplated the events of the day.
He had acquired a phone during his visit to the Hayden family estate.
The screen displayed the WhatsApp chat with Zola, yet his fingers remained motionless, hesitant to type a single word.
Joel’s words had stirred something within him.
However…
The memory of three years of silence from Zola lingered.
He had once mustered the courage to call her when he was abroad. On the night the doctors finally said he could leave the hospital and return home, he gathered all his courage to reach out to her. But her mobile number had become invalid.
Did her change of number signify a definitive end between them
He couldn’t help but wonder if her decision was a direct response to their relationship.
He shouldn’t bother her anymore, he thought,
Yet, now that she had returned, he believed that after three years he could manage his emotions upon seeing her again. However, as their encounters multiplied, he found himself losing control, craving more with each passing moment.
Leopold, feeling conflicted, opted to set his phone aside.
His decision was to wait a while longer before taking any action.
He didn’t want to disrupt her life abruptly.
Meanwhile, Kylie was in Kenville.
Adolph remained unconscious.
The foreign team of experts mentioned the possibility of him being in a vegetative state, but they also mentioned the chance of rescue, saying it wasn’t time to give up yet.
Kylie accompanied Joseph to Adolph’s bedside.
She was adorned in sterile hospital attire.
Adolph appeared tranquil in his slumber. With the myriad of tubes notwithstanding, he seemed merely asleep.
“Grandpa’ Eylar began, her voice quavening, the doctors say talling to you more might help you wake up
She had always prided herself on her emotional composure.
She was calm when she arrived the hospital.
As she spoke, tears welled uncontrollably.
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Chapter 404
She had endured too many losses and too many departures of loved ones
Her mother, her dearest, and now… was it her grandfather’s turn
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Kylie remained silent for a long time, allowing herself to regain composure before slowly speaking again. “I don’t know why my mother left home all those years ago. But when you came to tell me that I was your granddaughter, my initial reaction was that you must have done something to hurt my mother. I felt repelled by you, even though I didn’t refuse your acknowledgment.
“I didn’t refuse because I wanted to know why my mother left you all those years ago, what you did to her. I wanted revenge.” Kylie finally spoke out about thoughts she had suppressed in her heart for many years, without reservation.
“Though I hesitated,” she continued. “I found myself drawn to your affectionate smile. I wondered if I could bear to unearth the painful truths of the past. I feared the truths I might uncover, and most of all, I feared I might come to hate you.”
As Kylie poured out her heart, her tears flowed unabated.
“It’s ironic, isn’t it? I initially sought revenge, yet I found myself relying on my adversary. Eventually. I stopped investigating further. Even though I may not appear close to you. I have to admit that I have accepted you, accepted the fact that I carry the blood of the Foster family in my veins, Kylie said, gazing quietly at Adolph.
Hopeful yet apprehensive, she sought solace in Adolph’s presence, longing for his awakening.
But as she poured out her soul, Adolph lay still, unresponsive to her pleas
All the family members had visited, trying to talk to him, but none had succeeded in waking him up.
Kylie, too, had no luck.
Leaving his bedside, she expressed her desire, “Grandpa, if you wake up, I just want to hear about my mother. It’s not ab anything else, no grudges, just curious to know what she was like when she was young.”
With that, Kylie exited the intensive care unit.
She did not notice the slight tremor in her grandfather’s fingers lying on the hospital bed.
After that, she stepped outside.
Joseph was waiting for her.
She was also accompanied by Adam
Observing Kylie’s demeanor, Adam offered solace, “The doctors say that family members’ calls are only a possibility; what’s more crucial is the expertise of medical professionals. Don’t be too disheartened.”
Kylie nodded in acknowledgment.
“Let’s go, I’ll drop you and Joseph off at the hotel, Adam suggested.
Kylie simply replied, “Okay.”
They sat in the car on their way back.
Adam volunteered. “As we discussed earlier, we found nothing unusual in Grandpa’s lawyer’s bank account.”
Kylie showed no surprise.
She recognized that being Adolph’s lawyer and enjoying his trust was no simple feat.
She understood that hidden transactions of interest were to be expected from such a figure.
12:39 Fri, Mar 15 M.
