Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 214 Smiles on the Face, Tears in the Heart

They came to see Martin, which was no surprise. I had never seen them visit before, so I felt surprised. However, my presence didn't shock them.

I stepped aside, and they walked in with gifts.

Victor walked up to Martin and said, "Dad."

Martin, who had been happily chatting, suddenly lost his smile and responded coldly.

Linda didn't greet him either, probably knowing she wasn't welcome, just like I knew they didn't like me.

They showed up after mealtime, so they probably didn't plan to stay for dinner.

When Martin invited everyone to the living room on the second floor, the mood got heavy.

"If I hadn't called you, would you have never planned to see me again?" Martin asked Victor directly.

Victor stayed silent. No matter how proud he usually was, he always held back in front of Martin.

We all sat on the sofa while Martin sat alone in a rattan chair facing us.

"I'm very proud that my descendants are all so capable now. It brings me great honor. Some things come with neither birth nor death. So, while you're all here, I want to make some arrangements in advance."

I got what Martin was doing: he gathered us to make his final arrangements, worried he might not get another chance or that we might argue after he's gone.

My heart ached with sadness.

I said, "Grandpa, it's too early to talk about this. You'll live a long life."

Hearing this, Martin smiled at me.

"Emily, you always know how to make me happy. Who lives a long life? That would make me a monster."

Martin's tone was joking, but I couldn't bring myself to smile. Except for Martin, we all had serious looks on our faces.

"I don't think any of you care about the inheritance, so I plan to donate all my assets to impoverished areas, to those who need it more."

After a few more words, Martin seemed exhausted and took a long break. In the quiet living room, his wheezy breaths sounded like a bellows.

I realized his health had gotten a lot worse.

Ethan had told me Martin had at most two years to live, and now it had been exactly two years. The thought scared me.

God was so cruel. Martin was such a good, kind person. Why did he have to suffer like this?

my arms, about to cry, and soon enough, she

them with

ones have opinions. How about I set up a growth fund for each of them, and one for Jason's future child as well? The rest will be donated." Raising two kids wasn't

chimed in

For Martin, this was his way of showing love,

to the inheritance, Martin didn't mention Victor or Richard. Linda looked

left without staying for dinner. We

of his health. But he was stubborn, preferring his freedom

loving the peaceful countryside life. With not much time left, we should

kids' faces. Though he smiled, I felt a deep

the car started, I looked back. Martin, in his old-fashioned white shirt, stood tall and strong despite his age. This unmoving figure brought tears to

in my memory. As an adult, Martin was the only one who showed me elder love. Aurora

running around, laughing, with Martin watching lovingly, telling them

professional attire, with her slightly curly hair down, revealing

had seen her since she caught Jason losing control after drinking that

me to the

gently blowing, carrying a

heard from Jason that you were on a business trip

to break the slightly awkward

town," she said

beach for a while and

explain it to her. After all, they were about to get married, and

must have been really

to explain,

fingers through her hair, pushing it back. She gazed out at the sea and said softly, "I used to resent you. When you left, I felt relieved, thinking Jason would forget you. I used to be so proud, but with Jason, I've done things I never thought I would. He's like a stubborn rock. I'm

I looked over and saw tears silently streaming down her face. She wiped them away haphazardly, but the tears kept coming as if all her suppressed grievances had suddenly erupted. From her tone, I heard

getting married

"Even though I want to be with him, this isn't the kind of marriage I want. I don't want to force him, and I don't want to

they got married or not, or ended up happy, no one could say. I couldn't tell her to stick

Jason know?"

him. Of course, he respects my decision.

He only has you," I

and looked out at the endless

kids. He turned down a lot of promotions and chose to teach in a rural area six months ago. Everyone has their own choices, and I believe he has his reasons as long as he's happy. Leaving makes me feel guilty; I've let him down after all these years of raising me. But it's not all bad. It's not like I'm never coming back. Maybe one day I'll come to terms with everything, and when I see him again, it won't hurt anymore. Or

choice was the

someone who doesn't love her and entering a marriage with no

no matter what, I wish you the

to look at me, the sea

dried, but

God will always be

Benjamin's address, hoping I would