Repeatedly recalling Grandpa''s instructions.


    Before, Grandpa didn''t approve of Ryan being with Jessica, just thinking she was a bit tooplicated, but today... it seemspletely different. What exactly did Jessica say to Grandpa?


    As the car entered the old mansion, I got out directly to leave. Ryan caught up in two big strides, pulling me into his arms.


    My body stiffened, and his head buried in my shoulder, he spoke somewhat helplessly, "Charlotte, stay with me tonight."


    "Just for one night."


    "Please."


    His words reminded me of the medical record I saw in the study during the day, and pity welled up inside me. "Alright."


    The atmosphere in the old mansion became heavy, just missing Grandpa made the whole house feel suddenly empty that night.


    Back in the bedroom, I took a hot bath, but when I came out, Ryan was nowhere to be seen.


    As I slept in the middle of the night, someone slowly embraced me from behind. Without turning around, I/ knew who it was.


    For some reason, in every move Ryan made tonight, Tcould sense his sadness.


    "Are you asleep?"


    With his forehead against my head, he asked in a very soft voice.


    I didn''t answer, nor did I move. After a moment, his deste voice sounded, "Charlotte, I disappointed Grandpa, didn''t I? Even in his final moments, I wasn''t by his side." He was willing to believe Jessica''s clumsy lies and acting.


    At this point, I didn''t know what to say.


    His voice was hoarse, "Is it my fault, Charlotte?"


    I looked at the moonlight filtering through the curtains. "I didn''t tell Grandpa that when he couldn''t predict life or death, you were with Jessica, pretending to have a stomach ache." For the first time, I discovered how cruel I could be.


    Seemingly consoling, but each word cut deep.


    "I''m sorry..."


    Ryan regretted, "I just wanted tofort her quickly and then go see Grandpa.”


    "It doesn''t matter."


    I didn''t want to say anything harsh anymore, just said. "You shouldn''t apologize to me either. It''s not me you''ve wronged."


    He was silent behind me for a moment. "I''ve let down both you and Grandpa."


    A pang of bitterness rose in my heart. I pushed away his actions andy t on my back, staring at the


    ceiling.


    "Ryan, you will lose more because of her sooner orter."


    The "her" didn''t need to be named. We understood each other''s hearts.


    Ryan was slightly stunned as if pondering for a long time before making a decision. "Charlotte, let''s start


    over."


    I sat up abruptly, and turned on the light in the dark, ready to explode, but saw tears welling up in his eyes, transparent liquid seeping from the corners.


    So, he was crying.


    In that instant, all my emotions copsed.


    After taking a deep breath, I struggled to speak calmly. "If this idea came from Grandpa, it''spletely unnecessary. Grandpa didn''t mention this before he left.


    He was serious, "Grandpa told me during the day that thedy of the Frost family can only be you."


    "What if..."


    I stood by the bed, looking at him. "If Grandpa hadn''t passed away today, would you still remember this? Or, if Grandpa hoped you and Jessica had no further contact, could you do it?" His face darkened, avoiding an answer, and only threw out a decision, "In any case, we cannot divorce,"Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "Are you informing me?"


    I was stunned for a moment, asking in astonishment.