Five Years Wasted Now They Beg Her Back novel Chapter 225

The old man’s clouded eyes studied Damien for a long time.

The young man was incredibly handsome.

He had an air of nobility about him, clearly not an ordinary person.

But there was an honesty in his eyes, and they seemed to light up whenever he looked at Grace.

After living a long life, he could still size people up.

This one was far better than that Hart fellow from back then.

"Good, a good boy."

Grace's grandfather shakily tried to help Damien up.

Damien quickly stepped forward and supported the old man instead.

"Take it easy, Grandpa."

The word "Grandpa" rolled off his tongue with practiced ease.

There was none of the arrogance expected of a man of his stature.

If the spoiled rich kids back in Jarrow City saw this, their jaws would hit the floor.

"Quick, come inside."

The grandfather wiped away a tear and gestured them in warmly.

"If my wife knew Grace was back, she'd be overjoyed."

They entered the house.

Though it was old, the place was kept very clean.

But the unmistakable, lingering smell of medicine made Grace’s heart clench again.

"Grandma, she's..."

"Sleeping."

The grandfather lowered his voice, pointing to the inner room.

"Her health has gotten worse these past few years. She has fewer lucid moments and more confused ones."

"Sometimes she doesn't even recognize me. She just mutters Grace's name."

Grace covered her mouth to keep from sobbing.

She tiptoed to the doorway of the inner room.

Lying on the bed was a tiny, frail old woman, her face a roadmap of wrinkles, like dried parchment. Her breathing was so shallow it seemed like it could stop at any moment.

Grace didn’t dare go in, afraid of waking her.

Or perhaps, afraid of seeing disappointment in her eyes.

Damien put a comforting arm around her shoulders, offering silent support.

They retreated back to the small living area.

Her grandfather rubbed his hands together awkwardly.

"We don't have much to offer guests, I'm afraid..."

"Back then, that damn bastard from the Hart family wouldn't even spare the child a single glance."

"He called Grace a jinx, said she was the reason her own mother died."

The grandfather spoke through gritted teeth, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

"That woman, Sabrina, had already moved in by then. After she had Lilian, she lorded it over everyone in the Hart family."

"Grace was so little, she couldn't even get a warm bottle."

"If we hadn't gone to get her, that child probably would have starved to death in that house!"

Grace hung her head, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She remembered her grandmother muttering about these things when she was a child.

But hearing it now was far more shocking.

It turned out that, to the Hart family, she had been an unwanted burden from the moment she was born.

"What happened then?" Damien's voice was as cold as ice.

"Grace stayed with us until she was in middle school."

Her grandfather looked at Grace, his eyes full of love.

"She was such a good kid, never complained about a thing."

"She helped with the farm work and took care of her sick grandmother."

"Even in her old, worn-out clothes, she had the best grades in her school."