Chapter 600
Needless to say, Sophie was well aware of Josiah’s tremendous pain at that instant.
However, she was hesitant to truly give up hope and grant him eternal peace.
Meanwhile, Josiah’s eyes had been darting over to the cabinet at the side. Noticing that, Sophie walked over and pulled it open, revealing a letter within.
She took the letter out.
It was from none other than her grandfather, addressed to her.
She opened it, but she then started weeping after reading it.
Hearing her sobs, Tristan entered the hospital room from outside. At the sight of her crying like a child, he strode over and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Don’t cry anymore, Sophie. Old Mr. Tanner won’t want to see you in such sorrow, so hang in there!” Her tears felt like knives stabbing him in the heart.
Nonetheless, they had to face all that right then, for no one could change reality.
Even Barney couldn’t do anything about it, let alone others.
As Josiah witnessed Tristan’s tender care toward Sophie, a sense of peace enveloped him.
“Old Mr. Tanner merely wants to see you for the last time. I reckon he must be in terrible pain right now. As such, shall we grant him rest?”
Naturally, Sophie understood Tristan’s meaning.
Should I pull the plug and put an end to Grandpa’s suffering?
“I’ll do it.” Tristan didn’t want her to experience such a thing, so he volunteered to undertake the task in her stead.
Regretfully, Sophie shook her head.
She got to her feet and trained her eyes on Josiah.
“If there’s a next lifetime, I’ll definitely seek you out and be your granddaughter again. In the next lifetime, I’ll obey you so that you don’t have to worry about me,” Sophie vowed sorrowfully.
A peaceful smile adorned Josiah’s face.
Actually, I don’t need to worry at all, no? She’s a strong girl, and she’ll certainly be able to continue living happily. Furthermore, she has Tristan by her side now!
By then, Morgan and the others had also come into the hospital ward to see Josiah for the final time. Morgan cried so hard that he almost passed out.
Fortunately, Felix remained by his side and supported him.
Yale wept as well. Regardless of the fact that his father had been exceedingly strict with him, the man only did so for his good, and he knew that much.
Henceforth, I’ll have no father anymore. There’ll no longer be anyone I can depend upon, and no one will protect me anymore.
“Dad, sorry for having worried you all this time. If there’s a next lifetime, I’ll definitely behave and obey you.”
At that second, remorse flooded him.
Beside him, Charmaine silently shed tears.
On the contrary, Willow stood at the side with her face devoid of expression. It was as though everything unfolding there had nothing to do with her, and she was but a bystander.
Well, what has all this that’s happening here got to do with me? Grandpa loves Sophie the most, so I’m no longer of significance now that she’s back. Thus, I only need to stand here quietly. There’s no need for me to be sad or cry. After all, such is my status in the Tanner family!
Josiah glanced around the room.
Seeing the crowd of people there to see him off, he didn’t cry but bobbed his head imperceptibly.
Subsequently, Sophie personally turned off his life-support system. Her hands shook incessantly, but still, she bit the bullet.
That was the last thing she could do for him, so she would never have someone else do it instead.
“See you in the next lifetime, Grandpa!”
At present, she could only hope that a next lifetime truly existed.
Ultimately, Josiah’s eyes still fluttered close. There was still plenty he worried about in the world, but he could no longer bother about it all in the end.
The moment he closed his eyes, Morgan passed out.
“Morgan?” Felix shook the man, but the latter remained unconscious, so he had no choice but to carry him over for the doctor to check him over.
Since Josiah had passed away, the issue of his funeral followed.
Tristan made all the arrangements alone.
Throughout it all, Sophie was taciturn.
Ysabelle kept her company by her side, knowing that she was grieving yet couldn’t do anything about it.
“Eat something, Soph!” she ventured.
At the sight of Sophie all despondent, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Conversely, Sophie shook her head upon seeing that.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Ysabelle. I’m fine. I merely need a bit of time.”
Verily, she was fine and knew what she should do.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t control her emotions then.
She wanted to see her grandfather off in peace, but still, utter anguish swamped her.
“Eat more, Soph. If you don’t eat, your body won’t be able to take it. Don’t allow your mind to wander anymore. Old Mr. Tanner wouldn’t want to see you in such a state either, right?”
“Go out first, Ysabelle. I’d like to spend some time alone with my grandfather.”
It was Josiah’s room back when he was still alive, but Sophie and Ysabelle were the only ones there.
Everyone else had gone off to get busy.
“Soph!”
Considering Sophie’s state, Ysabelle couldn’t say anything further. She could only leave the room quietly.
Felix was waiting for her outside. When he saw her coming out, he knew that Sophie was undoubtedly still grieving, so he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“All right, the only thing we can do now is to keep her company by her side. Don’t allow your mind to run wild!”
“I feel utterly useless, Felix. Sophie helped me a lot, yet I can’t do anything when she’s presently grief- stricken.”
“You’ve done enough, silly! She merely needs a bit more time.” She’s not an emotionless robot, so she can’t possibly stop feeling sad at once.
“I know.”
Indeed, Ysabelle understood that principle. But still, she couldn’t help worrying about Sophie.
Sophie stayed in Josiah’s room for a long time. It wasn’t until when the mourning hall had been set up that she went over and proceeded to kneel there.
Seeing that, Willow inexorably sneered.
How could someone as indifferent as her be sad? Or is she doing all this currently as a show for others to see?
“Go over and kneel as well, Willa. It’s far too inappropriate for you to stand here like this.” Now that Old Mr. Tanner has departed this life, even if she really held grudges against him in the past, they should all have faded away instead. She shouldn’t be harboring ill will against him anymore.
“What are you talking about, Mom? My legs are hurting, so I can’t kneel.” In truth, Willow didn’t want to go over and kneel at all.
“This won’t do, Willa. Many relatives will be coming over today, and they’ll be taking note of your attitude. Do you not want Tanner Group’s shares anymore in the future?” Even then, Charmaine was still obsessed with Tanner Group’s shares.
“Can you stop being so naïve, Mom? Is Sophie going to give me Tanner Group’s shares if I go over and kneel right now? Do you still not understand the kind of person she is?” Well, why should I still hope for something impossible?
At her remark, Charmaine’s brows furrowed.
“Even if not for the sake of Tanner Group’s shares, he was still your grandfather. How could you be so apathetic?”
In response, Willow sneered, “He never regarded me as his granddaughter, so why should I go and kneel before him now? Okay, that’s enough. Whatever you want to do is your business, and I won’t interfere. But don’t poke your nose into my affairs either.”
