n

n

nAdrian didn't want Grisham to die - not because he's still holding any amount of familial affection towards him, but because he doesn't deserve to find a conclusion that easily.

nDeath is nothing but an easy way to escape his doomed fate. He should struggle more - he should pay for all of his transgressions and wrongdoings. And he should do that while he is alive.

nAdrian couldn't understand why his grandfather never told his condition to anybody else, though. If someone knew about it, it would've been brought up at court since he would've needed medical attention. It's possible that he's only lying, and it's easy to prove it.

nBut Adrian knows that Grisham is more than aware of that as well - he will not get anything from lying.

n

"Why...?

" he muttered through his teeth, already keeping himself from throwing a fit.

n

"Why are you telling me first? Did you call me out on purpose for something like this?

"

nThe news would have come out devastating if it were not for their circumstances. However, there is no room for understanding nor consideration now. He is nothing more than taken aback by this turn of events. It completely came out of nowhere, and it was starting to ruin all of his plans to make him suffer.

nAdrian should have already noticed the signs, though. His grandfather had a terrible cough, and while he did have that even way back before, his attitude towards it made it look like it was nothing serious.

n

"I could not possibly make up for all the years I had been bad. There is nothing I can do now. I already failed to give the love and the warmth I was supposed to give to you as my grandchild. I know I can't blame you or anyone else for resenting me. I can't blame you for anything because it's all my fault.

"

nGrisham is not even trying to apologize - he thinks that everything is already too late, and he has decided to give up this early on. It was true that everything was already too late, though. No matter what he does, he will never ever gain his forgiveness. Still, it was perplexing to see him not caring at all.

n

"I've been thinking to do something at the very least. I'm not going to do it as my way of earning your forgiveness. This is something that I know you deserve more than anyone else. You have worked really hard, my grandson. Though I failed to be a good grandparent - and even a man overall, I would like for you to recall that I had once been by your side,

" Grisham continued, feeling like this would be the last time he would ever get to talk with him.

nAdrian remains unmoved through it all. He lets him say what he wants, but at the same time, he refuses to give the response that he wants. His grandfather can never be genuinely sincere. Even if he is, it's not like he's going to give a damn about it.

n

"I came up with a decision...

" Grisham trailed off and regarded his grandson, propping his chin over his folded hands and looking at him straight in the eye.

n

"Upon my death - whenever that may be, you will inherit more than half of my properties and fortune. Each one of my private records and past transactions - I will also hand them over to you in case you might need them in the future. Everything else that I have now will be in your possession.

"

n

"I don't give a ** about your goddamned inheritances...

" Adrian hissed underneath his breath, not even a bit least pleased.

n

"Why the hell do you keep throwing all of these to me when you can just repent for what you have done?! You're not even sorry at all! Do you even have a heart?! Are you even human?!

"

n

"Whether you want them or not, I will give them to you. I'm afraid this is the only thing left for me to do now that I can't redeem myself anymore.

"

n

"You can't?! You just don't want to!

"

n

"There's no point.

"

nWith that, Grisham abandoned all the remaining chances he had, leaving Adrian wondering if putting him behind the bars was the right thing to do after all.

n---

n

"I thought you already stopped drinking this much? This might turn into a habit before you realize it, you know.

"

nCharles found Adrian drinking inside his office again.

nBut unlike last time, he doesn't do this all day long. He would still go to work and do what he had to do. Yet as soon as nighttime falls - as soon as he is all on his own, he will always take out a bottle of wine to keep himself collected. He will try to drown all of his sorrows and miseries - a slightly effective yet bad way to cope, he once claimed.

nNow, it's only a matter of time before he passes out from drinking too much.

n

"Just leave me be. Don't worry. I will still be on time for my appointments and meetings tomorrow,

" Adrian reassured his secretary - with his chair facing him as he continues staring out to the window.

n

"I think you should take some time to rest for now. It has already been more than a month since the court trial, and even before then, you have not gotten any day off,

" Charles pointed out, concern laced in his tone.

n

"It's fine. I'm fine.

"

nEveryone thinks that Adrian is perfect.

nEven when many sorts of defaming situations happened to his family and company, this so-called perfection of his still shone through. Despite his unstable emotional state, he was able to fulfill his duties and carry his obligations without any trouble. He's like a machine. But in reality, being busy with work is only another way for him to cope. That's why he remains outstanding and exemplary.

nIn some sense, everyone is right about him being perfect.

nHowever, what they don't know is the truth that lies beneath that front - among everyone involved, he is the one who is suffering the most. He kept shouldering all the burdens and hiding away his emotions like this. Within, he is broken and damaged - very nearly beyond repair even.

nAt this point, there is only one person who can heal him.

n

"By the way, I have something to report about Ma'am Cassidy...

" Charles began, instantly piquing his attention just as he expected.

n

"Asher told me that she already settled down. She invested in their business and started learning how to manage one. As a way to gain experience, she decided to work at a bar-

"

n

"A bar?! What kind of bar?!

" Adrian exclaimed in surprise, hoping with all his heart that it was not what he thought it was.

n

"They call it a sports bar, I think. She's a waitress and a singer there.

"

n

"O-Oh.

"

nHe takes a moment to blink at that in enlightenment before heaving a sigh of relief. Still, he somehow can't accept this. Though he respects her decision to work hard for something she wants, he can't accept that he's not there to support nor help her in any way.

nHe is the head of a prestigious corporate that has stayed on top despite the series of turbulences that it has been through lately, and with how capable he is, he should do something for his beloved wife as well.

n

"I don't think it's a good idea to see her now, President. Else, you might just end up wasting the past three months. You said she wanted to draw a line, so you have to see that through for a while longer,

" Charles advised, already getting the idea that he would go see her by looking at his expression alone.

n

"Is it a sin to at least drop by for a bit? I worked hard to settle my own matters as fast as I could so I could finally face her again. I did work hard. Can't I get to see her perform as a reward? Even just for short while?

" Adrian grumbled in dismay and frustration, acting like a child who was starving for affection.

n

"I don't know. I still don't think it's good to do so-

"

n

"Of course, it is a big no-no, my little brother!

"

nRight then, Irish came barging inside his office all of the sudden - with Olivia and Edward standing all awkwardly behind her.

nFrom the looks of it, they seem to be eavesdropping on their conversation for some time now. Adrian didn't particularly allow nor ban his siblings from entering the place, but he kind of thought that keeping their distance was already an unspoken rule among them. They really don't visit that frequently, but when they do, it leaves nothing but unsound chaos.

n'Even after everything I did to Grandfather and our family as a whole, they didn't distance themselves. They didn't doubt me nor complain at any point, though they did have a lot of questions...' Adrian recalled in silence, displeased by their unannounced arrival.

n'If anything, they only became even more stubborn, and they kept bugging me no matter how much I tried to push them away.'

nWhile Adrian only keeps looking all indifferent and somewhat out of it, Irish proceeds to make her grand entrance while Olivia and Edward can only sigh in exhaustion.

n