Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 221 The Trial

After about half an hour of walking, Leonard finally left the busy downtown and made his way into a nursing home.

When I got to the entrance, I saw a bunch of kids laughing and crowding around him. He was handing out toys, and the kids were over the moon, singing and dancing around him, all shouting, "Thank you, Grandpa Leonard." I walked up and called out from behind him.

"Uncle Leonard."

He stiffened and slowly turned around. When he saw me, he gave a complicated, weathered smile.

I realized it had been almost two years since I last saw him. In that short time, he seemed to have aged a lot. His wrinkles were deeper, and his hair was whiter. He dressed simply and shuffled along, looking nothing like a company president. To me, he just seemed like an ordinary, lonely old man.

The nursing home courtyard had some greenery and long benches for people to rest.

Leonard and I sat down on one of the benches.

"Uncle Leonard, do you know where Bella is?"

At the mention of Bella, Leonard's face showed a hint of sadness. He looked at the kids playing nearby and gently shook his head.

"Bella hasn't contacted me. I don't know where she is or how she's doing."

Having been friends with Bella for so long, I kind of understood her personality and her complicated relationship with her dad. This time, Zachary's incident was indirectly caused by Leonard. Bella had some resentment, but when Zachary said he'd handle his own problems, I think Bella might have had some doubts. She knew he was involved in some shady stuff but didn't stop him, maybe holding onto a bit of hope.

Now, Bella hadn't contacted Leonard, maybe out of resentment, or maybe she didn't want him to know about her current situation.

A paper airplane flew in front of Leonard. He bent down to pick it up, and a little girl ran over to take it from his hand.

"Thank you, Grandpa Leonard!"

Leonard lovingly patted her head and smiled, "You're welcome. Go play."

Watching the little girl hop away, Leonard said, "When Bella was little, she had two little pigtails. When she ran, her pigtails would bounce, and she was so cute. I always think of her when she was little. She was very obedient and always clung to me, wanting to hold my hand wherever we went."

Leonard suddenly laughed, as if recalling something.

"Even when she wanted to watch ants move, she would drag me along. Back then, I seemed to have a lot of patience. No matter how busy I was, when Bella came to me with her innocent and adorable voice, I couldn't say no. I was a grown man, but I was always wrapped around Bella's little finger. I had no choice but to put down whatever I was doing, pick her up, and go see whatever she found fascinating." Leonard was lost in his memories, a loving smile on his face, but his eyes were shiny with tears.

Listening to his story, I could picture it all. The indulgence and affection of a father's love I knew that feeling too. I thought that before Leonard's heart changed, Bella must have been really happy. But in the years that followed, they lived in hatred.

the happiest and most

everything had passed, people always tended to remember the good times, while the painful and unbearable memories were automatically sealed away. Leonard's memories of that time were still so vivid. "Now, Bella will never come to cling to me and act spoiled. She hates me so much. But I'm worried about her. What parent doesn't love their child? Although I was a scoundrel before, I still love her!" Leonard's voice choked,

me feel bad too, especially seeing him so sad now. It felt like something was stuck in

Bella is a strong person. She can

wiped his tears with his fingers and sighed deeply with

have done many things wrong regarding her, but I just wanted her to have a good life and not suffer in the future. Looking back now, I realize I was wrong. When I got money, I became arrogant. That's the main reason she hates me. I shouldn't have stopped her from being with Oliver. I tried to smooth her path, fearing she'd face hardships, but I only made things

voice was broken by sadness and tears, which he could no

felt equally sad and didn't know how to comfort

few children ran over and held Leonard's

"Grandpa Leonard, don't cry!"

tears flowed even more. He gently

good kids. Go

Leonard finally calmed down. When he spoke again,

many mistakes in their lives. At the time, they don't realize it. It's only

finish, but I could feel

I know your career is going great right now. But let me give you some advice:

right thing by turning in his own family; he needed my understanding and comfort more than ever. Why should the grudges of the previous

kids. I thought he's channeling all his love for Bella into these children. Because he didn't cherish it back then,

was the day of Victor

I got out of the car in the courthouse parking

saw us, his face a mix of gloom and suppressed sadness. Faris patted

brought in. Victor walked calmly, while Linda kept her head down, probably feeling ashamed and scared. Ethan and I sat

was resting on the back

presented a tape,

was placed in the recorder, I glanced

the judge's bench, but his

but hold his hand tightly. His palm was sweaty, and I was just as nervous. We didn't know

Victor and Linda, fully exposing the truth behind

judge asked Victor and Linda if the recording was accurate. Linda was already pale with fear and didn't dare to speak. Victor, however, admitted everything and

Linda tried to bribe other workers to testify that Uncle Sam had caused the accident by not following the rules. My dad, on his way to the quarry to load gravel, heard about Uncle Sam's accident. When he arrived, he overheard them urging the workers to lie. My dad and Uncle Sam

my dad was determined, so Victor and Linda decided to kill him. Victor had Linda stall my dad while he tampered with my dad's car, leading to the accident that killed my parents. My dad was always a righteous man. Back to that time, he must have been in a hurry to

minute after hearing everything, then collapsed into his chair

was sentenced to life in prison, while Linda

Victor remained calm, standing tall and composed. Even when he was taken away, his expression was peaceful, and his