Chapter 109 Her Concerns
Ava made her arrival at the elderly woman's residence just a touch past the tenth hour.
Grandma was nestled in her bed, engrossed in a book, her reading glasses perched precariously on her nose. Upon Ava's entrance, she hastily placed her book aside, her face lighting up with a warm welcome. "Ava, dear, you've arrived," she greeted cheerfully.
"Grandma," Ava responded, a radiant smile playing on her lips as she took a seat beside the bed. "What might you be reading?"
"A tale of romance," came Scarlett's reply.
Ava's eyes darted to the book cover, instantly recognizing the genre that typically captured the hearts of young adolescents. She couldn't help but express her surprise, "Grandma, you're indulging in romantic novels?"
"And what's wrong with that?" Scarlett retorted, feigning sternness. "Am I too aged for tales of love? Are they reserved solely for the youth?"
Though there was a sharpness to Scarlett's tone, there was no genuine anger behind it.
"Grandma, you've misunderstood," Ava quickly clarified, a grin spreading across her face. "I'm merely surprised at your youthful spirit. It's wonderful! You're exactly the kind of grandmother I admire."
Ava had always held a fondness for those who retained a playful spirit, regardless of their age. She found such individuals truly captivating, unlike those who felt obligated to act their age, put on a facade of maturity, or become indifferent to the world. Such a life would be dreadfully dull.
She harbored a hope that when her own steps grew slow with age, she'd still be engrossed in a romance novel, her heart fluttering with every tender act the hero showed his heroine, eagerly rooting for their love story.
However, a nagging thought persisted. Would she end up like Scarlett, alone in her bed?
Grandpa had passed away a decade prior, a figure Ava had never had the chance to meet. She recalled how, ten years ago when Scarlett Mitchell had taken her in, the elderly woman had seemed much more youthful.
Back then, Scarlett was vibrant, but time had taken its toll. Now, her back was more bent, her face etched with deeper lines, and her hair almost entirely silver. A wave of sadness washed over Ava.
Everyone has their time to depart, to join the countless others in the river of history.
The thought of Scarlett's advancing age brought a sharp pang to Ava's heart. The mere thought of her absence was unthinkable.
She couldn't bear the thought of losing her.
Engrossed in her thoughts, Ava felt a tickle in her nose, her eyes unexpectedly filling with tears.
Scarlett, noticing her distress, took her hand, her voice laced with concern. "What's the matter? Has Alex been causing trouble? Tell me, and I'll set him straight."
"Grandma," Ava practically lunged into her arms, hugging her gently, "I've just missed you terribly, and I'm so glad to see you."
She kept her worries to herself, aware that the inevitable day would come. Scarlett, she believed, would face it with grace—after a certain age, people seemed to accept many things, even death, with less fear.
However, for those left behind, the grief was palpable.
Especially for Ava, who held Scarlett as the most cherished person in her life. Without her, she couldn't even begin to imagine where she might be.
Scarlett treated her better than her own flesh and blood, even more lovingly than her biological grandson.
Theirs was a bond that transcended blood ties. Although her parents had perished in an accident at a factory owned by the SK Group, and while the corporation had provided a generous compensation, their obligations had ended there. Scarlett could have left Ava to a different fate, but she chose to welcome her into her life.
She had done so regardless, offering Ava a brighter future, a renewed chance at life. Therefore, no matter what, Ava would always put Scarlett first.
