Chapter 561

Great-Grandfather was well over seventy now. As he often said with a wry smile, every year he lived was one year less, and his life was already in its final countdown. Gwyneth couldn't shake the fear that this visit might be their last goodbye.

She didn't want to face the pain of parting. She simply couldn't bear it.

Gwyneth stopped struggling and let herself rest against Hawthorne, breathing in the faint, comforting scent of his cologne. Somehow, it calmed her.

Three hours later, the helicopter touched down on the rooftop of Starfall Medical Center. Gwyneth felt a gentle pat on her cheek-Hawthorne's hand.

She jolted awake, realizing only then that they'd landed.

"We're here?"

She'd slept the entire three-hour journey, not a single dream disturbing her rest. That alone felt miraculous.

But she had no time to dwell on miracles. Her only thought was to see her great- grandfather, to make sure she wasn't too late.

She broke into a run, only to stop short when she realized she was on the hospital's rooftop. Confused, she turned to Hawthorne.

"Where are we?"

She'd thought he would take her straight to her great-grandfather's old house.

"This is the rooftop of Starfall Medical Center. Wasn't your great-grandfather brought here?"

Hawthorne, a rush of gratitude welling up inside her. He'd brought her directly to the hospital so she could see her great-grandfather

"Thank you."

started to dash off again, but Hawthorne caught her by the arm, steering her in the

"The elevator's this way."

flustered she was. Ducking her head,

"Oh-right."

shook his head in mild exasperation. Where had her usual poise and

her hand-afraid she might

they walked, Gwyneth pulled out her

just got to the

made it to Starfall?" Emily replied. She'd already visited the old man earlier in the day and was now home

"I did. How's Great-Grandfather?"

nurse. Your mother's with him. After you see him, make sure

so she didn't linger on the call. She hurried straight

frail and shrunken in a way that made her heartache. In her memories, he'd always been gentle yet full of vitality; now, for the first time, he looked

nose stung and her eyes filled

see you," she whispered, her

with emotion.

presence, Thorpe slowly opened

Gwyneth, the lines of his face softened into

doesn't have much time left. I

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