Chapter 599
“How’s your work at Central Hospital, Sophie? Can you make a trip home?” Ultimately, Tristan was afraid that Josiah wouldn’t be able to hold out for much longer.
Halting in her tracks, Sophie snapped her head back at him.
“What do you mean by that? Did something happen to my grandpa?” She eyed him in puzzlement, wondering whether something had happened.
The only person who came to mind was her grandfather, for she didn’t care a whit about anyone else.
Seeing that Tristan had said as much, Barney knew that the matter could no longer be kept under wraps.
Well, she would’ve learned about it sooner or later, and the truth is such right now.
“Make a trip home, Sophie! Anyway, everything has been resolved now. As for the slight side effects, leave them to me to figure out a solution.” She can rest easy with me here.
Tristan grasped Sophie’s hands.
“Remember this—I’ll always remain by your side no matter what happens, so don’t be too sad about things!”
In truth, Sophie had already braced herself from the very beginning.
Yet, she still panicked upon hearing that right then.
Everyone else didn’t try to dissuade her from leaving. All things considered, she had already done a great job, so there was nothing wrong with her going back to have a look at her grandfather.
Tristan brought Sophie to the hospital directly.
When they arrived at the entrance to the hospital, Sophie stood there for a long time, unable to bring herself to step in.
Finally, Tristan took her hand.
“Let’s go! Old Mr. Tanner has been yearning to see you.” Verily, he must be bone-tired after hanging in there for so long.
He led her into the hospital, to the room where Josiah was. Yale and the others had been keeping watch in there.
Of course, they weren’t there because of filial piety. Instead, they were merely worried that Josiah wouldn’t leave them anything if he were to die.
Therefore, they had been staying there all this time, hoping that the man would leave them some shares and not give everything to Sophie if for no other reason than them keeping him company.
As for Sophie, they didn’t trust her at all.
At the sight of her then, Yale immediately stalked over. “Where exactly did you disappear to, Sophie? Do you know how long your grandfather has been waiting for you? Why did you only now come when he loves you so much and is about to depart this life soon?”
The instant he started speaking, all that came out of his mouth were accusations.
He wasn’t concerned about whatever she had been doing.
Conversely, all he cared about was the distribution of assets.
Everything else didn’t matter to him in the least. “How’s your work at Central Hospital, Sophie? Can you make a trip home?” Ultimately, Tristan was afraid that Josiah wouldn’t be able to hold out for much
longer.
Sophie merely swept a placid gaze over him.
With just that single look, Yale didn’t dare utter a single word further.
However, Willow then strutted over.
“Is there anything wrong with what Dad said, Sophie? Are you not the person Grandpa loves the most? And are others not allowed to say anything when you’ve done something wrong?”
A frown promptly marred Tristan’s countenance.
Ugh! These few members of the Tanner family are really revolting! If it weren’t because of my promise to Old Mr. Tanner to refrain from making a move against them, I would truly throw them out right now. Listening to them alone tires me out.
Not to be left out, Charmaine hastened over as well.
“Soph, your grandfather has always loved you most, so go and talk to him! He has been hanging on by a thread, waiting for you to come back.”
Sophie remained silent, but her hands balled into fists.
Is there really no hope anymore? At the end of the day, things still came to this.
Upon hearing the commotion outside, Morgan walked out of the hospital room. When his gaze fell on Sophie, his eyes turned red-rimmed.
“You’re finally here, Ms. Sophie. Go on in. Old Mr. Tanner had been waiting for you all along.”
At his voice, Sophie could no longer be bothered to give the trio’s intentions any thought.
As soon as Yale and the others saw her entering the hospital ward, they wanted to follow suit. Unfortunately, Tristan’s men stopped them from doing so.
At that, Yale furiously shot daggers at Tristan.
“Mr. Tristan, I know you’re incredibly powerful, but this is our family’s matter. We only want to go in and have a look at Dad. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate for you to do this?”
Tristan, on the other hand, had his hands stuck in his pockets.
“The person he wants to see is Sophie, so please shut up. I don’t like listening to nonsense!” Tristan countered mildly.
When Ysabelle learned that Sophie had finally resurfaced, she rushed over to the hospital in great sorrow.
She was aware of how much the latter cared about Josiah.
Now that Old Mr. Tanner is in such a condition, she must be devastated. Hence, I want to keep her company by her side.
By the time she arrived with Felix and only saw her uncle outside the hospital ward, she instantly knew that Sophie had already gone in.
“Can Sophie really accept it, Uncle Tristan? And how could you let her go in alone? She must be grief- stricken right now and needs someone to keep her company by her side.” Ysabelle was utterly worried, so she no longer feared the man.
“She’s exceedingly close to Old Mr. Tanner and is presently bidding him farewell for the final time, so how could someone else possibly go in and interrupt their time?” Tristan inhaled deeply, the mere thought of her distress then almost robbing him of breath.
How I wish I could bear all this for her, but there are some things in which that’s impossible!
That was also the reason for his sheer anguish at that moment.
Meanwhile, Ysabelle teetered on the verge of tears.
She really couldn’t imagine Sophie’s crushing grief right then and wanted to go in to keep her company.
Yet, she couldn’t do so, for that was Sophie’s final moment with Josiah. Thus, no one could go in and intrude into their time.
Clocking her dejection, Felix wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“All right, don’t be sad anymore. Sophie still needs us to stand by her side, so there’s no need for you to be all gloom and doom.” At the very least, Sophie still has us with her.
Sean and Charles rushed over as well.
It went without saying that they knew Josiah couldn’t hang on for much longer and had been merely waiting for Sophie. That day, Sophie returned.
In other words, it was also time for him to leave.
In the meantime, Josiah was in a coma when Sophie entered the hospital ward. Taking a seat beside him, she told herself that her grandfather was only asleep.
Everything will be fine when he wakes up.
She could only numb herself with that thought, for there was nothing else she could do.
An indeterminate time passed before Josiah opened his eyes. No sooner had he glimpsed Sophie sitting beside his hospital bed than a smile bloomed on his face.
He wanted to hold his hand out to her, but he hadn’t an ounce of energy left.
“S-S…”
That aside, he wanted to speak to her, yet he was likewise incapable of doing so.
Naturally, Sophie saw right through him and swiftly grasped his hand.
“I’m back, Grandpa. I’ll remain by your side and keep you company forever.” Sophie’s eyes crinkled as she smiled.
No, I can’t cry. I definitely can’t right at this time. He’ll undoubtedly be even sadder if I were to shed tears now.
“Are you hurting, Grandpa? Where does it hurt?” Considering his current condition, he must be in terrible pain, right? He’d been waiting for me, and it was me who put him through such agony for a long time!
Josiah was already content that he could lay eyes on Sophie before breathing his last.
Innumerable words were hidden in his weathered eyes, but he couldn’t give voice to anything at that time. All he could do was look at her greedily.
If there’s such a thing as a next lifetime, I still want to be her grandfather. I’ll absolutely protect her well, allowing no one to pick on her.
