Chapter 503 Collapse of Faith
Nathaniel kicked off his slippers and walked barefoot to the door.
His grandpa's door was slightly open, and the room was dark. He stood quietly at the entrance for a few seconds before Reed's raspy voice called out to him.
"Nathaniel, is that you? Why aren't you with Aurelia?"
Nathaniel took a deep breath and walked in.
"Grandpa, you're still up?"
Reed reached over to turn on the bedside lamp and shifted to sit up.
"Old folks don't sleep much. A little nap here and there is enough."
Nathaniel wasn't usually an emotional person, but seeing his grandpa looking so frail made his nose sting with the threat of tears.
In the light, Reed's eyes looked clouded, as if he hadn't slept in ages. Just like Uncle Marcus had said, they looked like they hadn't closed in a day and a night.
How could he endure such strain?
Nathaniel had brought his grandpa to Coral Bay to help him recuperate, but it seemed like he hadn't had a moment's peace since they arrived.
"Grandpa, you should sleep. I'll keep watch."
Reed chuckled.
"I'm not a kid, Nathaniel. I don't need you to tuck me in. I miss the kids. Ask Aurelia if she can bring the little ones over tomorrow to liven things up."
Nathaniel nodded.
"I'll pick them up after school tomorrow. Want some water?"
"Sure, a little."
Nathaniel fetched a glass of water. Neither of them mentioned the incident. One didn't dare ask, the other didn't dare bring it up. They pretended it never happened.
After making sure his grandpa was settled, Nathaniel returned to his room. His phone rang; it was Beatrice.
"Nathaniel, why did you hang up on your uncle? Is it so hard to do him a small favor?"
Nathaniel was already irritated and didn't bother hiding it.
"Mom, stop enabling Uncle to do those shady things. Is it worth it for a few bucks?"
Beatrice had been woken up early by her brother's call and was still groggy. She couldn't understand why Nathaniel would scold his uncle so harshly for asking a favor.
"Nathaniel, your uncle is really in trouble this time. These things are nothing to you. Helping him could save a family. Why can't you see that he's struggling? His wife complains he doesn't make enough money. We have the means to help, so why not?"
Nathaniel felt a headache coming on just hearing his mom's voice. She never saw the bigger picture, only her own interests.
"Mom, Uncle brought in substandard materials to the construction site for kickbacks. Four innocent lives were lost because of it. What about their families? Those workers were the breadwinners. What about their kids, their parents, their spouses?"
Beatrice yawned.
"Why can't you see the bigger picture? Are they your uncle? What does it have to do with you? This is my brother, your uncle, in trouble. Should he have to beg you for help?"
Beatrice was frustrated, feeling like she had raised a cold, unfeeling money-making machine. All he cared about was his business empire and that woman, ignoring his own family.
Nathaniel's patience was wearing thin.
"Mom, if it's about Uncle, don't call me again. I can't help with this. I've lent him money before, but this time he hurt people. He needs to face the consequences."
Nathaniel hung up. Less than a minute later, Beatrice called again.
He didn't answer. Then she started bombarding him on Facebook.
[Your uncle is the only man in the Heilbronn family. If something happens to him, there will be no one left to carry on the family name. Please, for Mom's sake, help him this once. Money can solve anything. I don't believe we can't settle this with enough money. The families just want compensation, right?]
[You may not respond, but I need to say this. We must help your uncle. He shares our blood. You can't be so heartless. I taught you better. Your uncle loves you.]
[If you won't help, I'll fly back and handle it myself. I'll use money to smooth things over. I'll beg if I have to!]
In a fit of anger, Nathaniel blocked Beatrice.
The next morning, Nathaniel was getting ready for his workout when there was a frantic knock at the door.
He opened it to find Marcus looking worried.
"Nathaniel, your grandpa needs to go to the hospital. Can you help?"
Nathaniel panicked, quickly throwing on a shirt and rushing downstairs.
Reed had a fever, was coughing violently, and refused to go to the hospital or eat.
Marcus had tried to persuade him for hours, but finally had to call Nathaniel for help.
Nathaniel packed a bag with Reed's clothes and carried him downstairs.
Reed resisted, knowing his condition was serious. In the car, he started giving final instructions.
"Nathaniel, don't waste your time. Take me back to Imperick. I don't want to die away from home. Your grandma is waiting for me."
Nathaniel, driving, forced back tears.
"Grandpa, it's just a fever. Don't talk like that. We'll be at the hospital in ten minutes."
Reed's voice was weak.
"How can a man live without faith? Listen, take me back to Imperick. In my room at the Heilbronn Villa, behind your grandma's photo, are letters I wrote to her. Take them with me. There's also a pair of earrings on the nightstand I gave her for her 27th birthday. She loved them. She lost them, and I found them in an old coat after she passed. Bring those too."
Marcus, sitting beside him, couldn't take it anymore.
"Dad, stop talking like that. Everyone gets sick. Talking about this stuff is bad luck. We're almost at the hospital. If you're in pain, lean on me. Don't say such depressing things."
Nathaniel sped to the hospital, running red lights.
While Reed was being treated, Nathaniel and Marcus waited outside, anxious.
"Uncle Marcus, has Grandpa been anywhere these past few days?"
Marcus thought for a moment.
"He hasn't gone anywhere. We've been at home. Since yesterday morning, he's been off. He hasn't eaten, drunk, or slept. He didn't talk to me and spent the night copying scriptures. This morning, he collapsed."
Nathaniel's heart ached. He knew his grandpa's lifelong faith had crumbled.
It was as if his entire world had fallen apart.
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