ADLEY


    “You can’t. It will only raise suspicion for Mykel and Elise. Just go out on a date with Elise and report back to the office tomorrow like today did not happen.”


    He gave a slow nod. “You’re staying with your grandfather?”


    “No. It won’t take long, but I’m going to the penthouse after.”


    “I still don’t like this.” He scowled.


    “Grandpa would never hurt me,” I insisted. “This must be very important.”


    “Will you call me as soon as you reach there?”


    “Of course.”


    ze hugged me and whispered, “Please, take care.”


    “I’m not going to a battle, ze.”


    “I’m sorry.” He smiled.


    Two ck sedans were already waiting in the parking lot. ze followed me down to make sure I was going to be okay.


    “Insurance.” He also took pictures of the tes of the car.


    “Silly.” I kissed him on the cheek. “I have to go.”


    Before I climbed into the sedan, I asked the tall guy, “What’s Grandpa’s favorite ce?”


    “Lake Amelie, ma’am.”


    I looked at ze and shrugged. “See? He’s legit.”


    The trip to the mansion was smooth, yet it made me skittish. I loved Grandpa and always would. He just pushed me to the limit, almost ruined those good memories we had together.


    Alexander Kross always worked hard,ing homete and on business trips most of the time, but he’d never forgotten my birthday and my parents’ death anniversary. He wasn’t the grandfather of the year when it came to sharing sentiments. Nheless, he was warm. He wasn’t the kind of person who spent a lot of time watching you y in the backyard or tend to your bruised knees. But he was a good man.


    The iron wrought doors slid open dramatically as the car smoothly entered along the wide driveway. We passed the massive fountain of a lion, its mouth expelling water which yed a huge part in my childhood.


    The car parked in front of the mansion. Of course, Butlers Morrow and Bentley weed me back with a smile. Nothing had changed in the entire ce for thest two years. It felt like walking down happy memoryne.


    Last year, we spent the Holidays at South Hampton. Since then, I have not revisited this ce.


    “Your grandfather is in the study.”


    “Thank you, Morrow.”


    The old man smiled.


    The double door swung open. The sight almost knocked me off the floor. It stopped my heart for a moment.


    “Grandpa!” An adrenaline rush coursed through me, and I found myself kneeling in front of my grandfather in bed. How did Ie there so fast? I had no idea. At that second, all I wanted was to be with him.


    I gripped his hand and called his name again. This time he turned to me with a surprised look on his face. He still had a familiar warmth in his gray eyes, telling me he was still the man who raised me to be who I was today.


    I took a deep breath to hold back the tears in my eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me? How long this has been?”


    He squeezed my hand back before he looked to supposed to be the doctors and a male nurse. “Leave us, please?”


    They hesitated for a second before they walked away and left the room.


    As the door closed before us, I sat on the chair when I felt my knees were about to give up. “Grandpa, please tell me? Aren’t you supposed to be in the hospital?”


    “I have the best doctors in town. I’m using the same machine they use in the hospital. Less hassle and infection.” He looked okay but pale.


    “How long has this been going on, Grandpa?”Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “About four months on dialysis,” he said slowly.


    “Grandpa, I’m sorry to ask you this, but how bad it is?” A tear finally fell from my eye. I had thousands of questions I wanted to ask simultaneously, but my brain couldn’t process them. My chest was so heavy it was hard to breathe. “Do you need a kidney transnt?”


    “I already epted my diagnosis, Adley. I’m gonna be okay now that you’re here.”


    “You could have just told me. How long have you known? We still had dinners every few weeks, and I’d never suspected-” I squeezed my eyes shut. He was careful of the food he chose to eat. “It all makes sense now.”


    “I still do this a few times a week. At my age, I’m still a good recipient of the transnt.”


    “Then why haven’t you done that?”


    “If there’s aplication, I can die.”


    “Grandpa, those doctors have done it multiple times. You just have to trust them. Is there anything I should know about?”


    He nced away.


    “You don’t have ns to undergo a transnt. Why? Grandpa, please?” I asked as I gripped his hand.


    “I n on resigning, and I don’t want to leave the position empty until you’re ready.”


    “Grandpa, you can appoint anyone you want? I want you to do the transnt, resign, and enjoy your life. You’ve worked hard for decades, and it’s time to stop beating yourself up. You have enough money even if you won’t get up from bed for the rest of your life.”


    “I want you to take my seat.”


    I fell silent for a moment. “Do you trust me, Grandpa?”


    He looked at me for a few seconds before he smiled. “Always, honey.”


    “Then do me a favor and do the transnt.”


    “Are you happy? Is Mykel treating you well?”


    In an instant, I was brought back to that moment before Mykel left. I smiled. “You hate him.”


    “I don’t. I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t. He was like the son I wasn’t able to say goodbye to. Since he worked for me for two years, I saw your father in him. He was relentless, hardworking, and focused. He never left until his work was done. I was never surprised what he’d aplished at a young age.”


    “I’m sorry for hurting you, Grandpa.” I pressed his hand on my cheek.


    “Thest thing I wanted you to see is this-my situation. I didn’t want to cloud your judgment and be emotional to deciding on your future. Would you do something for me?”


    “Anything.” I nced at him. At this moment, I would do anything for him to be okay.


    “Don’t abandon the people you love no matter the circumstances. They stay with you for a reason. They came to your life because fate has brought them to you.” He squeezed my hand and nted them on his cheek. “Adley, Mykel never left me. I pushed him out of my life to pursue his dream. He deserves to be somewhere on the top. When I heard you two met, I knew it was only a matter of time before you and Mykel would make a difference together. You make me proud, honey.”