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

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

about these things made me feel bad too, especially seeing

strong person. She can get through any

his tears with his fingers and sighed

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

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

sad and didn't know how to comfort

ran over

"Grandpa Leonard, don't cry!"

this, his tears flowed even more.

all good kids.

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

mistakes in their lives. At the time, they don't realize it. It's only when they look back in old age that they see

didn't finish, but I

you some advice: no matter

pain after doing the right thing by turning in his own family;

home, Leonard was still playing with the kids. I thought he's channeling all his love for Bella into these children. Because

days later, it was the day of Victor

got out of the car in the courthouse parking lot, we

sadness. Faris patted

probably feeling ashamed and scared. Ethan and I sat together, with Richard and Faris in

Richard's hand, which was resting on the back of the chair

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

in the recorder, I glanced

as he looked at the judge's bench, but

was sweaty, and I was just as nervous. We didn't know what truth the tape

Linda, fully exposing the truth behind my dad's car

the recording was accurate. Linda was already pale with fear and didn't dare to speak.

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 them urging the workers to lie. My dad and Uncle Sam were friends, so he couldn't let them bury the truth and said he would

only have to pay compensation but 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 Sam, driving fast. That's why he lost control on that long, steep curve, resulting in the accident. Hearing Victor personally reveal the truth, imagining the scene, I tried to suppress my agitation but couldn't

for about half a minute after hearing everything, then collapsed into

was sentenced to life in prison,

taken away, his expression was peaceful, and his steps were steady. He