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.

those early years were the happiest and most harmonious times for Bella and

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, and tears rolled down his cheeks. He seemed afraid I would see,

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

worry. Bella is a strong person. She can get through any difficulties.

wiped his tears with his fingers and sighed

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 worse and caused her more suffering. The consequences of what Andrea did shouldn't be borne by Bella. I

broken by sadness and tears, which he could no

sad and didn't know how to

children ran over and held Leonard's

"Grandpa Leonard, don't cry!"

this, his tears flowed even more. He gently patted

all good kids.

again. After sitting for a while, Leonard finally calmed down.

the time, they don't realize it. It's only

I could feel his

going great right now. But let me give you some advice: no matter how busy you get, don't neglect your family. Cherish what

Ethan was in so much pain after doing the right thing by turning in his own family; he needed my

still playing with the kids. I thought he's channeling all his love for Bella into these children. Because he didn't cherish it

was the day of

parking lot, we saw Richard, and then Faris stepped out of the

mix of gloom and suppressed sadness. Faris patted his shoulder, and we walked

Linda kept her head down, probably feeling ashamed and scared. Ethan and I sat together, with Richard and Faris in the row in

was resting on the back of the chair in front of him,

the procedure, the prosecutor presented a tape, something couldn't be seen

was placed in the

calm as he looked at the judge's bench, but

help but hold his hand tightly. His palm was sweaty, and I was just as

between Victor and Linda, fully exposing

Linda if the recording was accurate. Linda was already pale

at the quarry, Victor 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

might also face a shutdown, cutting off his income. The other workers didn't want to lose their jobs and were willing to cooperate, but 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 seek justice for Uncle

then collapsed into his chair as

sentenced to life in prison, while Linda got 15

the verdict was announced, Linda started crying, while Victor remained calm, standing tall and composed. Even when he was taken away, his expression