Chapter 312

S31 55. Memories and Regrets

With teary eyes, Diana looked at Rowan’s young face and the little boy who looked like Louis. Their poses were stiff. However, the

impression it gave was very touching.

“Did he treat you well?” Diana’s voice was hoarse.

Frank smiled sadly, taking a deep breath. “He taught me very hard. I was lucky to survive.”

With a twitching chin, Diana nodded. Her eyes flickered with sadness. “He had invited you to the company at such a small age,” she stroked the photograph.

Frank nodded. “Yes, but I really enjoyed that day. I was happy like a child who was presented with something new. Grandpa explained what expectations and responsibilities he had put on me, but I felt proud and cool.” a

Diana snorted a laugh. “It’s no surprise that Louis and Emily have that spirit. They inherited it from you.”

Frank nodded. Then, carefully, he turned the album page over.

In an instant, Diana’s eyes fell on the portrait of Rowan and Frank with a horse. Both of them were wearing riding gear. The smile o little Frank’s face was so wide.

“Y-you guys were riding?” Diana sighed in disbelief.

“Yes, it was the first time Grandpa taught me to ride.”

“He could ride?” Diana looked at her grandson, confused.

Frank raised the corners of his lips. Grandpa was really great.”

Diana shook her head spontaneously. “Impossible. He couldn’t even

stand near a horse. Every animal that came near him was always.

restless.”

“But as far as I remember, Grandpa was skilled at taming horses. Could it be….” Frank was a little hesitant to continue his sentence.” Grandpa learned to ride because it reminded him of you?”

Diana swallowed bitterly. Her eyes closed, trying to erase the image of Rowan. However, his face became even clearer.

“Why did he do all that? He threw me away. He even cursed me and I cursed him not to be happy. But why did he end up doing things related to me?”

“Because he regretted neglecting you, Grandma,” Frank answered softly.

Slowly, Diana’s eyes opened again. The red streaks looked clearer. He regretted?”

A second later, Diana laughed mockingly. “No way. I was the person he hated the most.”

“No, Grandma.” Frank shook his head slowly. In silence, he took album from Diana’s lap. “You know what? Before I got this albu also thought that he didn’t love me. I thought that he only saw me the successor to his success. I believed that he only cared about Harper’s good name.”

Frank turned to the last page. A letter was tucked there.

“But, after reading this, I realized. He loved me. Only his way was different from people in general. He loved me with his own. understanding. I should have understood that a long time ago.”

Suddenly, Frank was jolted into the past. It was as if he could see how fierce Rowan was when he barged into his office. He could hear how firm Rowan was when he lectured him in the bedroom.

Realizing it was all just a shadow, he blinked. Diana turned out to be looking at him with pity.

“And actually, Grandma, he made this album not for me.” Frank

closed the thick book and tapped it with his index finger.

The wrinkles at the base of Diana’s eyebrows grew more creased.”

What do you mean?”

Smiling meaningfully, Frank handed over another album. Diana’s heart suddenly started pounding. All her nerves tightened.

“Is this what Rowan left to you too?”

Frank shook his head slightly. “The notary just handed this over when

I was about to leave to meet you.”

Diana’s throat became increasingly dry. The air in her lungs was hot. With a shaky breath, she opened the first page.

As soon as she saw another face that was similar to Louis, her eyes misted up. A lump of emotion got stuck in her throat. Diana choked.

“Little Norman?” she sighed softly. One hand trembled, clutching

chest.

Frank nodded. “Yes, it’s Daddy.”

Millions of needles seemed to be piercing Diana’s heart. She grimaced then groaned. When the pain was no longer unbearable, tears fell.

“This is my son,” she sobbed. “This is the boy I failed to bring with me.

Afraid that Diana wasn’t strong enough, Frank grabbed her fingers. Without making a sound, he patted that cold hand.

“This is the last face of Norman that I remember,” Diana sighed, full

of regret. “I haven’t seen him in decades. I don’t know what he looked like when he was older. I don’t know what he would sound like if he

called me Mommy.”

With eyes full of hurt, Diana shook her head in front of Frank. “I also don’t know what he did in his life. All I know is his grave. Only his picture is displayed there. I can no longer hug him.”

The shaking in Diana’s body became more intense. Frank could no longer bear to look at her. Gently, he pulled his grandmother into hist arms. While whispering, he rubbed her back. “I’m sorry, Grandma. I’m sorry you have to live with that pain.

“I miss your father, Frank. I really, really miss him. But what can I do? We can’t see each other anymore. I didn’t even have time to apologize. I couldn’t be a good mother to him.”

While wiping her face, Diana returned to examining the picture. She knew that there were many other memories immortalized on the next page. However, she wanted to stay longer. She wanted to spend many seconds, absorbing every impression her late son had experienced.

“Oh, Norman…. I’m sorry. I was too selfish. I let you grow up with a mother. Sorry I gave you completely to your father.”

Frank didn’t dare make a sound. He could only rub Diana’s back, hoping it would ease her breathing.

For a long time, Diana stared at Norman’s small face. Her brows were furrowed, her chin kept twitching. Her lips occasionally released long sighs, as if she was whispering in the air.

“Was your father happy during his life?” Diana whispered, barely audible.

Frank raised an eyebrow, not expecting it. “As far as I remember, Daddy was happy. He enjoyed his work, his achievements, and his

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youth. For the latter, I found out from Auntie.”

“Who’s that auntie?” Diana’s crying suddenly stopped.

Frank’s lips pursed slightly. “Vivian Bell, Jeremy’s mother. She used to be Daddy’s secretary. Back then, they dated secretly. But when she was pregnant with Jeremy, Daddy got married to my mother, Melanie. It’s a little confusing, but the point is… Daddy spent a lot of his youth with Vivian.”

Diana’s breath rumbled again. She was jealous of that woman.

“She’s really lucky. She was the only woman Norman truly loved, perhaps beyond his love for his own mother.”

Frank was silent. He never knew what his father thought of Diana, and he didn’t want to brag. Lies were the most fragile way to comfort

someone.

While exhaling in resignation, Diana turned the page. Her gaze easily fell on the envelope with Rowan’s handwriting. In an instant, her entirel body froze. Her brain seemed paralyzed.

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