Chapter 8: Chapter 8 by HusnaS

Tracy paused, feeling the weight of the tension in the room. The air grew heavy, and the once cheerful expression on Grandpa Winston’s face twisted into a deep scowl.

“I asked you, who gave her permission to come here?” Grandpa Winston’s voice cut through the tense silence.

“Grandpa Winston, please calm down,” the Young Nurse interjected, her voice trembling with concern. She feared his anger might exacerbate his illness.

“Grandpa, don’t you remember her? She’s Tracy,” Lucas said, trying to bridge the connection.

“So what!?” Grandpa Winston snapped, his displeasure evident.

Seeing the same girl he had seen on the TV with his grandson, was it possible that the news wasn’t fake? Otherwise, why would she also come here?

“Before I count to two, I want her out of this place,” Grandpa Winston demanded.

“But, Grandpa…” Lucas looked dissatisfied. “Tracy is here to check on you.”

“Y-You.” Grandpa Winston’s hand shook.

Tracy could sense the brewing conflict between Lucas and his grandfather. She quickly intervened. “Uhm, Lucas… It’s alright, I’ll stay outside.”

She lowered her head and dropped her shoulders, sending a pitiful look toward the old man. “Grandpa, I hope you get better soon. I- I am happy that you seem to be recovering well.”

With that, Tracy turned around and stepped out, and Lucas’s expression hardened at her pitiful state.

“Now tell me what is going on!” Grandpa Winston demanded, shifting his attention to Lucas and Heidi. “Why are you with that girl? I hope it is not what I am thinking.”

Lucas had intended to keep the news from his grandfather, fearing this very reaction. He shot Heidi a warning glare before responding. “That’s right. Heidi and I are getting a divorce.”

Grandpa Winston opened his mouth, eyes flashing with shock. “You- Ah!” Suddenly, he started coughing.

The nurse hurried to his side, offering him water, which Heidi gently helped him drink. “Calm down, Grandpa,” Heidi murmured softly. “Your heart is currently weak. Please don’t let it bother you.”

“How could you say that? This boy is about to give me another heart attack!” Grandpa Winston shouted in frustration. “You are so pitiful, Heidi. He is forcing you to do it, right?”

Grandpa Winston’s heartache knew no bounds. How could his grandson be so irresponsible? Yes, the old man had initiated their marriage. Throughout his life, he’d never met a girl as honest and kind as Heidi.

Heidi was his lifesaver, too. If it hadn’t been for her, Grandpa Winston wouldn’t still be alive.

So he devised a way for their marriage to happen, knowing that Heidi was the perfect match for his grandson.

“Lucas didn’t force me, Grandpa,” Heidi forced a smile, her voice gentle. “This is a mutual agreement. We are not a perfect match for each other. We have spent three years together, yet there’s no spark between us.”

“So, Grandpa…” she squeezed his hand gently, her eyes meeting his. “Lucas and I concluded that we should just separate.”

To lessen the old man’s anxiety, Heidi decided to cook up that lie. However, Lucas stared at her, his brows furrowing as she said the exact opposite words he expected her to say. He thought Heidi would try to cause a feud between him and his grandfather by acting pitiful and begging him to bring her back.

“Is that so?” Grandpa Winston felt relieved that his grandson didn’t bully her into agreeing to the divorce. Still, he was disappointed.

“Heidi, listen…” he tried to reason with the couple. “Three years is only a short time. You think marriage is a bed of roses? Let me tell you… I have spent fifty years with his grandmother before she passed away. We weren’t in love all the time, and there were days when we didn’t even see each other out of anger. Your marriage is going to work if you remain patient and loyal to each other. Just cancel the divorce.”

But Lucas wasn’t loyal to her. Heidi shook her head, smiling sadly. Canceling the divorce was never going to be possible, especially when Lucas looked at her as if she were his mortal enemy.

“Please, Grandpa, try to understand. The divorce is the only way we’ll both have peace of mind.”

Grandpa Winston’s heavy sigh resounded in the room. A few moments of silence passed by before he spoke, “Even so, you will still be my granddaughter. Promise me you won’t abandon this family, Heidi.”

Heidi could feel Lucas’s glare boring through her. She ignored him and nodded to Grandpa Winston’s words. “I promise you, Grandpa.”

“My birthday party is next month. Promise me you’ll come.”

“Of course, I’ll be there.” Heidi chuckled. “Not only that, I’m going to prepare the best present you’ll ever receive.”

“Are you sure?”

Lucas looked from Heidi to his grandfather, and he pursed his lips. The two chatted so casually as if he wasn’t in the room.

“Grandpa, can Tracy also come?” Lucas asked.

“Don’t mention her name.” Grandpa Winston snapped, still mad at his grandson. He didn’t like that girl, either. Unlike Heidi, whose eyes were as transparent as water, that girl’s eyes seemed to be shrouded with some mystery. Although he couldn’t point his fingers at whatever it was, he wasn’t just comfortable with her.

“Bring her to my birthday party, and I’ll ask the servants to throw her to the beasts.”

Lucas sprang to his feet, frowning. “If Tracy isn’t coming, I won’t either. Grandpa, she is the girl I’m going to marry. You have to approve of her.”

“In your dreams!” Grandpa Winston glared at him. “If you want to leave the family, don’t attend my birthday party, okay?”

Lucas had on a conflicted look, and he stormed out of the room.