Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 388

Chapter 888 The Last Request

The faint curve at the corner of Nathan’s Hips slowly disappeared.

He stared directly at Elena.

Finished

There was something terrifying in his gaze now–an obsessive possessiveness so intense it felt almost tangible.

Like a spiderweb silently wrapping around her limbs, tightening little by little, dragging her toward him so he could consume her completely.

It sent a chill through her entire body.

“Let’s go.”

The rest of the Hawthorne family was here.

Suddenly, Elena no longer wanted to walk over there.

She turned to leave.

Gideon shot Nathan one cold glance before following her into the elevator.

“I feel like Nathan’s become a completely different person.”

Elena leaned against the elevator wall.

Just remembering the look in his eyes made her skin feel cold.

Everything had happened too quickly.

First Catherine.

Now Charles.

Could Nathan really have spiraled so far that he would even hurt his own grandfather?

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No matter what happened later, Charles had once loved Nathan more than any other grandson.

But the expression in Nathan’s eyes just now…

Something about it felt deeply wrong.

“Gideon.”

She suddenly called out to him.

“Yeah?”

“Could you keep an eye on Grandpa Charles’s condition for me? Maybe ask his attending physician how things are going…”

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Chapter 388 The Last Request

Finished

Gideon immediately understood what she meant.

“Don’t worry. I’ll pay attention for you.”

Then he paused before adding quietly,

“But don’t stress yourself out too much. At the end of the day… this is still the Hawthorne family’s business.”

Elena was soft–hearted.

But after everything the Hawthornes had done back then, she couldn’t simply pretend nothing had happened.

Still-

Charles’s condition turned out to be far worse than she had imagined.

By the weekend, Elena was sitting in the living room discussing postpartum recovery centers with Evelyn while Alexander sat beside them listening quietly.

The atmosphere had been warm and peaceful.

Until Walter Kingsley suddenly stepped out of the study upstairs.

“Elena.”

Standing on the second–floor landing, he called her name.

All three of them looked up at once.

“Grandpa? What’s wrong?”

Walter’s expression was solemn.

“The old man from the Hawthorne family… I’m afraid he may not make it.”

He paused briefly.

“The Hawthornes just called. He wants to see you one last time.”

Elena froze.

The news caught her completely off guard.

It had only been three days since she first heard Charles had been hospitalized.

She had assumed that because there was no further news, his condition must have stabilized somewhat

She never expected the next update she heard would be this.

He may not survive.

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Chapter 388 The Last Request

Finished

Walter watched her silently.

“If you don’t want to go, I’ll call them back.”

Ultimately, this decision had to be hers alone.

“Come on.”

Alexander had already picked up the car keys.

Without another word, he gently took her hand and led her outside.

He understood Elena too well.

If she truly didn’t care anymore, she wouldn’t have reacted like this.

Alexander drove her to Pinecrest Medical Center and accompanied her upstairs to the palliative care suite.

Outside the room, only the estate steward remained standing guard.

Inside, muffled sobbing from the Hawthorne family could already be heard through the door.

“Mrs-”

The steward instinctively started to address her the old way.

Then he abruptly remembered that Elena and Nathan no longer had any relationship whatsoever.

Quickly correcting himself, he lowered his head respectfully.

“Mrs. Kingsley. Thank you for coming. When the master briefly regained consciousness earlier, he specifically asked me to contact Mr. Kingsley senior. He wanted to see you.”

Elena nodded softly.

“I understand.”

The steward led the way.

Alexander stayed beside her as they entered the room together.

Nearly every member of the Hawthorne family was gathered around Charles’s bedside.

Daniel and Evan were crying miserably, tears and mucus running down their faces without restraint.

Victoria sat nearby clutching tissues, quietly sobbing into them.

Nathan stood off to one side.

The moment Elena and Alexander walked in, his eyes immediately landed on them.

“What is she doing here?”

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Chapter 388 The Last Request

Finished

Victoria’s emotions instantly became agitated after seeing Elena

“This was the master’s request,” the steward explained calmly.

Victoria pressed her lips together.

Because Alexander was present, she ultimately didn’t dare continue.

Elena slowly walked to the bedside.

Lowering herself gently, she spoke softly.

“Grandpa… it’s me. Elena.”

For five entire years, she had called him Grandpa.

And during those years, Charles had genuinely treated her well.

.

Whenever Victor or Victoria deliberately made things difficult for her, Charles had always stood firmly on her side.

Even later, when he ultimately chose the Hawthorne family over her-

she still couldn’t bring herself to hate this elderly man who had once protected her so many times.

Especially now.

Especially after seeing how thin and frail he had become.

Hearing Elena’s voice, Charles slowly opened his eyes.

His unfocused gaze gradually sharpened little by little until he finally recognized her face.

His dry lips trembled weakly as if he wanted to say something.

But he was already too weak.

Elena could barely hear even the faintest breath escaping him.

So she bent down further, bringing her ear close to his lips.

At the same time, her hand gently wrapped around his.

Charles’s fingers trembled slightly.

As though he wanted to hold onto her.

But he no longer had the strength.

And suddenly-

Elena remembered the countless times she had visited Hawthorne Manor before discovering Nathan’s

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Chapter 308 The Last Request

deception.

Back then, Charles knew she loved fish.

So this very pair of hands had personally gone fishing for her again and again.

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Afterward, he would sit beside her for hours, chatting with her like a real grandfather spoiling his favorite granddaughter.

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