Although Melissa was hesitant, she couldn’t defy her son’s insistence. She reluctantly called her husband back into the room.
“Nancy, it was wrong of us. We shouldn’t have hurt you.”
“Nancy, please forgive us. Ask your mom to forgive us too,” Richard added awkwardly.
Nancy’s fear faded as she saw me protecting her by her side. But despite their apologies, she refused to forgive them.
“Bad people! I never want to see you again!”
Her stance was clear, and I squeezed her little hand in support. “If that’s how Nancy feels, then you both should stay away from her from now on.”
With that, I dismissed the two of them.
Stephen turned to me with a fawning smile. “Are you feeling better now?”
I replied with a cool tone, “Yes, I am. Rest up and focus on your recovery. I’m taking Nancy with me.”
Without waiting for his response, I left the hospital with my daughter.
Ronald was already waiting for us at the entrance. He gently lifted Nancy into the car. ” Nancy, how about we go visit your great–grandfather?”
Nancy clapped her hands excitedly. “Yes, yes! I miss Great Grandpa!”
The three of us drove to the retirement home where my grandfather lived.
When we arrived, we found him healthy and radiant, his complexion glowing. Nancy happily grabbed his hand, chatting away in her usual lively manner.
Seeing the two people I loved most safe and happy brought a sense of relief and joy, like surviving a disaster and finally reaching a moment of peace.
After a while, Nancy grew tired and fell asleep on a lounge chair. I pulled my grandfather aside, away from her, to talk privately.
“Grandpa, you’ve always been so healthy. What caused your sudden illness?”
He sighed deeply, hesitation evident in his expression.
I quickly encouraged my grandfather to continue.
“Does this have something to do with Stephen? Don’t hide it from me, Grandpa. I can’t stay with him anymore.”
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