Chapter 398
I held my phone, and my thoughts were suddenly dragged back to the distant. past. Fragments, both unfamiliar and familiar, surged into my memory.
âGregory Ford! You promised to come over for breakfast today, and your overslept again!!â
âGregory, it hurtsâ¦ugh! Give me a piggyback ride, now!â
âGregory, everyone says weâre engaged. Whatâs an engagement?â
âGregory, pick that one, the big apple!â
âGregory Fordâ¦â
âHow is being punctual considered late?â
âWhy did you run so fast? Hop on.â
âIâll marry you, thatâs what.â
âAlright, alright, little girl.â
âLilliana, have some manners!â
I burst into tears, saying, âGregory, I donât have Grandpa anymore. Grandma
says everyone leaves, no one can stay with me forever.â
He soothed me patiently, âI will, Lily. Iâll always be with you.â
Blinking away tears, I said, âGregory, today youâre like a good person.â
He lifted his chin proudly, replying, âI always have been.â
Childhood memories, récent events, and the devastating news of Gregoryâs death intertwined in my mind. I pressed my hand against my chest, but my face remained dry.
âJaneâ¦â Mark froze, then quickly comforted me, âThe departed are gone.
09-03
Dwelling on it will only harm your health.â
I was silent for a long time before murmuring, âI rememberedâ¦â
But remembering only made accepting his death harder.
Mark asked, âWhat?â
âI remembered a lot of thingsâ¦â
Hearing this, Mark urgently summoned the doctor, who, after an examination, preliminarily concluded that the accident had stimulated my nervous system, causing my memory to return.
It was then I realized. âWeâre not in our home country?â
âRight, weâre in Country F.â
Mark explained, âBryantâs network is too extensive back home. After getting you to the hospital and ensuring your condition was stable, I brought you to Country F. I thought weâd wait until you woke up so you could decide for yourself.â
âThank youâ¦â
I was grateful for his thorough care. The last place I wanted to be was anywhere near Bryant. The painful memories would continuously haunt me.
Soon after, the Ford family held a grand funeral for Gregory. Mark asked if I wanted to return for the funeral. I refused.
Gregory couldnât be dead. He never broke a promise to me.
As my health improved, the doctor said I could be discharged anytime.
When Mark came back after handling the discharge procedures, I hesitated before speaking, âI might⦠not plan to return home for now.â
I was done with people controlling my life. They could believe Iâm dead for all I
care.
âReally?â
Surprisingly, Mark didnât object. He sat beside my bed, âI have some information I hesitated to share with you.â
09:03
Chapter 398
âGo on.â
âThere might be more to Gregoryâs death. The night of the lab explosion, a shadowy group booked a flight from Vista Town to Country F.â
âYou mean,â I looked at him, asking, âGregory might be in Country F?â
âIf heâs still alive, itâs a possibility.â
âThatâs perfectâ¦â
I pressed my lips together, âI can look for clues about him in Country F.â
âYes, you can.â
Mark handed me the warm water, âJane, I respect all your choices.â