Chapter 417 Grandpa's Passing
Hearing someone behind her, Abigail panicked and quickly pushed Gregory away.
She looked back, and when she saw who it was, her eyes lit up instantly. "Quinn!"
Seeing the girl running towards him with a face full of surprise, Quinn's previously cold expression gradually softened.
Under Gregory's murderous gaze, Quinn slowly opened his arms, hugged Abigail, and reminded her, "Slow down, you're pregnant now, you can't be as reckless as before."
Abigail playfully nodded and asked, "Quinn, when did you come back? Have you seen Grandpa yet?"
Quinn nodded, a hint of sadness in his deep eyes. He had heard about the recent events in Aerilon. Sparing Cassian was already a mercy.
Darwin, who had always treated Quinn kindly, shared a deep bond with him. Thinking about Darwin's limited time left, Quinn felt a dull ache in his chest.
Abigail bit her lip, unsure how to comfort him, so she gently patted his arm. Her concerned gaze warmed Quinn's heart. Despite her own sorrow, she always thought of others first.
Gregory stood nearby, respectfully keeping his distance. Though often possessive, he knew when to step back. Abigail needed not only his presence as a husband but also the support of her family.
After a while, Quinn gradually suppressed his emotions, gently stroked her hair, and said, "It's getting late, you should go rest. I need to talk to Dad and Michelle about something."
Abigail sensibly didn't ask any questions, nodded, and went back to the room with Gregory.
But in the middle of the night, Gregory suddenly woke her up, his handsome face full of gloom and heaviness. "Abigail, Grandpa has passed away."
Abigail was stunned, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Gregory held Abigail in his arms, comforting her in a low voice, "If you want to cry, just let it out, don't hold it in."
Hearing Gregory's voice, Abigail could no longer hold back, murmuring, "How could it be so sudden?"
Abigail didn't cry for long. She struggled out of Gregory's arms, hurriedly got out of bed to change clothes, and stumbled outside. She was in such a rush that she even lost her slippers.
At this moment, the entire villa was shrouded in a sad atmosphere.
The hallway was crowded with people, and as she approached Darwin's room, she heard suppressed sobbing from inside.
Abigail halted, staring at the door just steps away, fear creeping in. She clung to a sliver of hope that it wasn't real—as long as she didn't see it, it wasn't real.
Gregory caught up, his large palm tightly holding her cold little hand.
At this moment, no words could offer comfort; the only thing he could do was stay by her side.
Kneeling by the bed, Caius noticed them and waved. "Abigail, come in and see your grandpa one last time."
Always composed in the business world, Caius was now in tears, looking disheveled.
Abigail's tears, which she had barely held back, burst out again. She didn't remember how she got to the bedside, staring blankly at Darwin lying there.
Just during the day, he had smiled at her, taught her to play chess, and said he wanted to name the baby in her belly.
How could he suddenly be lying here, motionless?
"Grandpa, Grandpa, look at me, it's Abigail!" But no matter how she called, Darwin, lying peacefully on the bed, didn't respond.
She instinctively reached out to hold Darwin's hand, only to find it ice-cold.
Tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision. Immersed in her emotions, Abigail couldn't think of anything else, holding Darwin's hand tightly, trying to warm it up.
Abigail halted, staring at the door just steps away, fear creeping in. She clung to a fragile hope that it wasn't real—as long as she didn't see it, it wasn't real.
But it was futile.
No matter how hard she tried, Darwin's body only grew colder. Overwhelmed by grief, she wept by his bedside. The others, sharing her sorrow, turned away, tears glistening in their eyes.
Only Bruce watched coldly, his thoughts steeped in cynicism. How much emotion could a granddaughter who had just been acknowledged truly feel? What a performance. She was good at pretending.
But if it was for the inheritance, it made sense. No wonder Linnea always said the prettier the woman, the better the actress.
He kept his thoughts to himself. Stirring trouble now would likely get him expelled by Caius, who had become the de facto head of the family. Bruce knew his place, but he couldn't quell the malice and sarcasm festering in his heart.
The news of Darwin's death quickly spread throughout Aerilon, causing a significant stir. In his youth, Darwin had been a legendary figure, and everyone mourned his passing.
As the eldest son, Caius swiftly composed himself and organized a farewell ceremony at the funeral home. Almost all the prominent families in Aerilon attended, with even Grace from distant Aramore arriving in person.
Although Abigail's true identity hadn't been officially recognized, she was at least nominally the eldest daughter of the Worthington family. She stood in the corner, enveloped in a shroud of grief. If Gregory hadn't been by her side, she might have collapsed. Gregory held her shoulder, offering silent comfort.
After the ceremony, the guests gradually departed. The journey home was silent, with no one uttering a word. Abigail leaned on Gregory's shoulder, drowsy from days of sleeplessness, sustained only by sheer willpower until everything was over.
Exhaustion finally took its toll, but even in sleep, Abigail was restless, her brows furrowed. Gregory adjusted his position, cradling her on his lap and gently patting her back. Caius and Michelle glanced back, their hearts aching at the sight of Abigail's pale, troubled face.
Michelle said, "Gregory, thank you for staying by Abigail's side during this time. She must have been under a lot of pressure."
Gregory shook his head and said, "Don't say that. As Abigail's husband, it's my duty."
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