**Keepsake 578**


    **Chapter 578 A Grandmother’s Lesson**


    “No!” Finn’s voice sliced through the quiet air like a knife, sharp and unyielding. “I’ve only ever regarded Nadine as an employee. My feelings for her have never been anything more.”


    Julia, his grandmother, responded with a calmness that belied the sharpness of her words. “Finn, if you were truly innocent of any wrongdoing, those rumors wouldn’t have circted the way they did. With your stature and influence, you could have easily put a stop to them, yet you chose not to.”


    Her words struck him like a physical blow, leaving him momentarily speechless. Finn felt a tightness in his throat, the exnations he longed to voice caught somewhere between his heart and his mouth, unable to escape.


    “But… Grandma, I truly didn’t.”


    His denial sounded hollow, almost desperate, like a plea thrown into an abyss.


    Julia, with years of wisdom behind her, understood her grandson better than he realized.


    Disappointment flickered across her face as she shook her head slowly. “You didn’t call me just to reminisce about the past, did you? You’re seeking my assistance to win Tess back.”


    The bluntness of her statement made Finn flush with embarrassment, yet he nodded resolutely. “Yes, Grandma. I’vee to understand my feelings for her. I can’t bear the thought of losing her again.”


    Julia paused, allowing the weight of his admission to settle in the air between them. After a moment of silence, she asked softly, “Finn, if you were in Tess’s position, would you take yourself back?”


    The question caught him off guard, his brow furrowing as he contemted her words.


    “Picture this,” Julia continued, her voice steady yetden with emotion. “Imagine being wrongfully used and imprisoned while your partner believes the lies told about you and refuses to lend a hand. Then, after a year of istion, you emerge with your career and reputation in ruins, only to discover that same partner has been entangled in scandalous rumors with your adopted sister.”


    Finn’s expression darkened, each word from his grandmother striking him like a hammer on an anvil, shaping his understanding of the situation.


    When she finally fell silent, Julia felt the dryness in her throat, releasing a bitter sigh. “Finn, you truly are a fool.”


    He lowered his gaze, absorbing her words with a quiet eptance. His subdued demeanor softened some of her frustration; after all, he was still her beloved grandson.


    “Listen to me,” Julia said, her tone shifting to a gentler cadence. “What a woman craves most is affection and care. You neglected her when she needed you the most. And now, with other good men vying for her attention, you’re in a panic. When you were so close to Nadine, did you ever consider how that must have affected her?”


    She sighed deeply, the weight of her concerns palpable.


    “I know, Grandma. I was wrong,” Finn replied, his voice more sincere this time, tinged with regret.


    Julia nodded, her heart softening. “I’ll do what I can to assist you, but remember, much of it hinges on your actions.”


    Finn’s dull eyes suddenly sparked with hope.


    “Grandma, really? You’ll help me?”


    His excitement was almost contagious, his entire demeanor shifting as if a light had been switched on within him.


    “Yes,” Julia replied with a small huff, her heart warming at his eagerness. “I want to see the little grandchild Tess promised you before I grow too old. You may not value them, but I certainly do. I’ll be in Aetheris in a few days, and you’d better make yourself useful.”


    In his mind, Finn could already envision a future where he and Tess were reunited, her radiant smile illuminating his world once more. His heart raced, filled with a mixture of hope and determination.


    “Grandma, I promise I’ll listen to you this time. I swear.”


    “You’d better,” she cautioned, her eyes narrowing slightly, a yful warning hidden in her tone.


    Meanwhile, at the Ember residence, Kylie sat anxiously awaiting Henry’s return, her posture slumped and fragile, reminiscent of a wilting flower.


    Nadine hade to offer herfort, her voice soft and soothing. “Mom, Dad’s only human. You used him unfairly. It’s only natural that he got upset.”


    Kylie grasped Nadine’s hand tightly, tears spilling down her cheeks uncontrobly. “I just…”


    Her voice faltered as she struck her forehead with her fist, her eyes brimming with anguish. “Nadine, I don’t understand what’s happening to metely. I’ve been anxious all the time, on edge about everything. Perhaps that’s why my mind has been ying tricks on me.”


    Nadine took her mother’s hand in hers, offering a reassuring smile. “It’s alright, Mom. I understand. You’ve been through so much recently.”


    The solidarity from her daughter caused Kylie to break down once more, clinging to Nadine as if she were her only lifeline in a stormy sea.


    “Let me talk to Dad,” Nadine offered gently, patting her mother’s frail shoulder. “I’ll tell him not to stay angry and toe home soon.”


    Kylie’s face brightened at the prospect, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes. “You will?”


    “Of course,” Nadine replied with a sweet smile. “I’ll call him right now.”


    Kylie straightened, her body tense with anticipation as she watched Nadine dial the number.


    The ringtone echoed in the room.


    Once. Twice.


    Silence.


    As the seconds ticked by, Kylie’s expression dimmed, the hope in her eyes fading.


    Nadine’s smile faltered. “He’s probably just busy. Let’s give him a little time.”


    She attempted to soundforting, yet Kylie’s head hung low, disappointment weighing heavily upon her.


    Nadine pressed her lips together, suddenly regretting her decision to suggest calling Henry. The phone in her hand felt like a burning weight, an anchor dragging her down into uncertainty.


    Sara Lili


    <strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.