?Chapter 487:


    Katelyn was the one who cried out.


    Her grip on Earl Poulos’ frail hand tightened as tears, long suppressed, now flowed freely.


    She pleaded, her voice thick with emotion, “Please, open your eyes. You haven’t yet reunited with your son.”


    Earl Poulos remained still, unresponsive no matter how vigorously Katelyn shook him.


    Austen, who had just stepped forward, spun around, his face awash with disbelief.


    He hurried to the bedside, emotion choking his words. “Please, open your eyes. Don’t frighten me. Open your eyes and call me your son!”


    Moments earlier, Austen’s resolve had been unyielding, yet now his pleas went unanswered as Earl Poulos remained with his eyes closed.


    Austen’s face was drenched with tears as he fell to his knees. “Didn’t you always hope for our reunion? Look at me, I’m here.”


    The pain on Austen’s face was deep, tinged with regret. He longed to turn back time, to undo his hesitations and repeated departures driven by fear and cowardice, despite seeing Earl Poulos’ dwindling time. No one could fathom the depth of Austen’s anguish. He had only just met his father, and now he watched him slip away.


    More heartbreakingly, Earl Poulos had never heard Austen call him “Father.”


    Katelyn, wiping her own tears, wanted to reprimand Austen but held back, knowing his pain surpassed hers. Austen, overwhelmed, trembled on the floor, his grief escting from quiet tears to loud sobs. He clung to Earl Poulos’ hand, pleading desperately for a response.


    Katelyn, overwhelmed by the scene, turned away.


    ?????????? ????????????: g??????ν?????????????


    Suddenly, she felt a strong hand grasp hers, its warmth a slightfort against the cold that surrounded her. Vincent, with a look ofplex emotions, said, “If you need to cry, go ahead. My shoulder is always here for you.”


    Katelyn’s tears, long held back, now cascaded freely as she leaned on Vincent’s shoulder.<fn02ef> Content originallyes from find~novel</fn02ef>


    She could not fathom the depth of her grief over Earl Poulos’ passing, given their brief acquaintance andck of a deep bond.


    It felt as though her heart had been pierced and twisted by the wound.


    Vincent caressed Katelyn’s soft hair, offeringfort as tender as one would to a child, gently patting her back.


    Jaxen, with tears brimming in his eyes, noticed them together and approached, biting his lip. “Vincent, this scene really saddens me,” he said.


    Attempting to lean on Vincent’s shoulder as well, Jaxen was stopped by a stern look from Vincent, causing him to back away in rm.


    Without a word from Vincent, Jaxen received a clear warning from his gazeing closer would bring trouble. The sadness in Jaxen’s eyes briefly faded, and he quickly moved aside.


    He gritted his teeth, resenting Vincent for putting his romance before their friendship.


    In Katelyn’s presence, he felt sidelined by his once close friend.


    Katelyn wasn’t sure how long she had been crying before her emotions finally settled.


    Her tears had stained Vincent’s shirt.


    Feeling somewhat guilty, she murmured, “Sorry for ruining your shirt.”


    Vincent responded in a gentle tone, “It’s alright. Your feelings are what matter most.”


    Jaxen, observing silently, noticed a rare tenderness in Vincent’s usually stoic demeanor.


    Meanwhile, Austen still knelt beside Earl Poulos’ bed, whispering “Dad” repeatedly.


    His hesitation, he knew, would haunt him forever.


    Vincent’s earlier remark seemed prophetic.


    Austen was bound to carry this guilt and remorse indefinitely.


    After gathering herself, Katelyn took a deep breath just as the butler quickly returned, bringing someone along.


    .


    .


    .