Chapter 199 The Only One Who Never Left


    Chapter 199 The Only One Who Never Left


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    Tracy quickly got up and steadied Franklin, patting his chest to calm him down. “Grandpa, don’t get upset. I don’t care about what they said, and you shouldn’t either.”


    Worried that someone at the table might say something even dumber to push him further, she wasted no time. She helped him upstairs, ending the ridiculous dinner before it got any worse.


    The truth was, Franklin wasn’t supposed to be discharged from the hospital yet. His health was too fragile. But when it came to Tracy’s future, he had dug his heels in, insisting on it.


    The doctors had no choice but to prepare extra equipment and discharge him.


    Back in his room, Tracy moved with practiced ease, sorting through the pile of medicine, handing him the right pills, then hooking him up to the monitors.


    Watching her hustle around with that worried look on her face, Franklin’s eyes misted. “Tracy, I’ve failed you,” he whispered.


    Her hand stilled as she plugged in one of the machines.


    She knew exactly what he meant-that he med himself for not protecting her.


    She turned around and put a soft smile on her face, crouching down beside him. She reassured him, ‘Grandpa, anyone else in the world might let me down, but not you.”


    She meant it. She remembered, over and over, what it felt like when family and friends abandoned her for Erin, how the betrayal had gutted her. If not for Franklin’s love and care, she would’ve shatteredpletely.


    Through those brutal two years at the Angelic Etiquette Academy, what kept her alive wasn’t just the burning need to demand answers from her family. It was the thought of him-how much she couldn’t bear to never see him again.


    She knew he must’ve searched for her, worried himself sick by carrying that pain every day. That was why she had toe back for him.


    Franklin’s eyes were ssy as he patted her hand gently and asked, “Tracy, tell me the truth. What’s going on with you and Chris?”


    Franklin wasn’t clueless.


    Daphne had sworn that Tracy was dating Chris, and sure enough, when he’d looked into it, there were signs that could’ve pointed that way.


    But tonight, Tracy hadn’t said a single word to Chris. Not one. There was no spark, no hint of romance between them. He might be old, but he wasn’t senile.


    Tracy knew he’d seen right through it. She had never intended to fake anything with Chris for Franklin’s sake, but there were things she couldn’t exin.


    So she offered a little white lie.”We broke up. Grandpa, I wasn’t happy with him.”


    Chapter 199 The Only One Who Never Left


    She knew what mattered most to him was her happiness. If she said that, he wouldn’t push.


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    And she was right. He patted her hand and said firmly. “Then good riddance. If he’s making you unhappy, keep your distance. All I want is for you to be happy for the rest of your life.”


    He mentally crossed Chris’s name off the list and immediately began running through other names, other young men in Cloudville who might suit her.


    He wanted to make sure she had someone by her side before he left this world.


    “Tracy, be honest-is there someone out there who makes you happy? Anyone?”


    Unbidden, a face shed in her mind-Ronald, with that easy smile and dimples that lit up his whole expression.


    Happy? Was that the word? She honestly didn’t know.


    Ever since she’d stepped into the Angelic Etiquette Academy, she’d forgotten what happiness even felt like.


    But with Ronald, she could breathe. For once, she felt at peace. Sometimes, when the nightmares of that ce came back, being around him almost made her believe it had all been nothing more than a bad dream.


    Franklin saw her expression shift, and he knew. She was thinking of someone.


    And who else could it be?


    His thoughtsnded on the same person who had been showing up with Tracy at the hospital these past few weeks. Ronald.


    He couldn’t deny it-he liked the kid. Out of all the young men he’d met, Ronald impressed him most.


    Smart, capable, sharper than Andrew even. The type who knew how to keep his cards close. He wasn’t a good match for someone innocent like Tracy.


    But he also saw how Tracy was genuinely happy with him, how Ronald truly cared for her. For a man like him, it was hard to admit, but maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.


    If the Jackmans hurt her again, maybe Ronald could be the one to protect her.


    Fraknlin realized he’d already talked himself into it.


    Tracy, of course, had no idea about the thoughts spiralling in his mind.


    She only held his hand tighter, “Grandpa, don’t worry about me getting married. I’m not in a rush. When it’s the right time, when it’s real, you’ll be the first to know.”


    He knew she was only trying to case his mind. He knew he shouldn’t pressure her, so he let out a heavy sigh instead.


    His old, wrinkled hand rested carefully on her head, gentle as if she were made of ss. “My dear Tracy … what will you do if I’m not around anymore?”


    The man who had dominated the business world for decades sat there now like a frail old soul, terrified of 2/3


    2:10 pm M


    Chapter 199 The Only One Who Never Left


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    leaving her without anyone to lean on-wanting desperately to protect Tracy, yet powerless to do more.


    2:10 pm ME