Chapter 735
His words seemed to convey to Leonard his unwavering commitment to loving Rosalie.
Leonard gazed at his only grandson, then slowly closed his eyes, as if fatigued, and hoarsely murmured, “The man of the Youngblood family… If he loves a woman too intensely, it often leads to… a tragic end. If you persist in such obsession, in the future… I’m afraid you won’t meet… a favorable fate either…” The old man’s voice grew fainter and fainter until it ceased altogether, while the heartbeat line on the monitor next to him turned into a flat line.
Rosalie was shocked and realized that Leonard had passed away.
The end of a life had unfolded right before her eyes, and it filled her with a sense of unease. The man who had been Jonathan’s blood relative had left this world so abruptly; it all seemed somewhat surreal.
Jonathan held Rosalie’s hand, his grip gradually tightening. It wasn’t until a gasp escaped her lips that he abruptly let go of her hand.
“Did it hurt?” he asked anxiously, noticing her slightly red hand, a result of his firm grasp.
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “Your grandpa…
“Yeah, he’s gone,” he murmured.
While Jonathan’s expression remained stoic, not reflecting the grief that most. people would show in such a situation, Rosalie understood that he was indeed. affected.
After all, Leonard was his family, and following the death of Jonathan’s father, the old man had been the one constant presence in Jonathan’s life.
Jonathan turned away, lowering his gaze to look at the old man lying in the hospital bed, appearing as if he were peacefully asleep.
In contrast, Rosalie stood quietly beside Jonathan. This time it was she who held his hand firmly.
Leonard’s funeral was scheduled for three days later, and his body was
temporarily placed in a refrigerated casket in the Youngblood family’s memorial hall.
Unlike typical funerals, Jonathan didn’t allow outsiders to enter the memorial hall for mourning.
For him, the memorial hall was a place off-limits to outsiders.
In this very memorial hall, his father’s body had once lain. Now, it was his grandfather’s turn.,
For the past two days, Jonathan had set aside all his responsibilities and spent.
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09:53
nearly 24 hours a day at the memorial hall.
Rosalie had visited the memorial hall multiple times, and each time, she found Jonathan standing there in black attire, gazing at the casket.
She had urged him to rest several times, but he always replied gently, “I know. I will take care of myself. Don’t worry.”
Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but worry. Even when she lay in bed alone at night, she couldn’t find the same peace she had when he was beside her.
It seemed that, subconsciously, she had grown accustomed to him sleeping next to her and seeing him the moment she opened her eyes.
“Is Jon still in the memorial hall?” Rosalie inquired of the butler.
“Yes, Mr. Youngblood is still in the memorial hall with Mr. Leonard Youngblood,” the butler replied.
Rosalie requested that the butler prepare some snacks and then proceeded to the memorial hall with them.
The memorial hall was brightly lit, and for these three days, the candles remained unextinguished, and the incense continually burned.
Upon entering the memorial hall, Rosalie observed Jonathan standing there as before. The light and shadows intertwined on his body, creating a subtle contrast. He was focused on the coffin, where Leonard lay, with an expressionless face.
“Jon,” Rosalie called out to him.
Only then did he seem to rouse from his reverie, turning to look at her. “Didn’t I tell you not to come here so often? It’ll be fine with just me around.”
“I wanted to see you, so I came,” Rosalie replied as she approached Jonathan and reached out to touch his face.
It was early January, and the weather had grown colder, yet the memorial hall lacked heating. Although it was indoors, the chill was palpable.
Especially at night, it was even colder.
“Will you stay here tonight?” she asked.
“As he raised me, I must fulfill my responsibilities,” Jonathan murmured. “Grandpa’s funeral is tomorrow, and many people will be there. It’s best if you don’t attend, considering your advanced pregnancy. It would be inconvenient.” “I’m not near my due date, so it won’t be too inconvenient for me to attend Grandpa’s funeral,” Rosalie said. “I’ll go tomorrow, and if I don’t feel well, I’ll let you know.”
Jonathan slightly pursed his thin lips. “Grandpa didn’t treat you well. Why do you…”
“There’s no complicated reason. It’s simply because he is your grandfather and family,” Rosalie replied. “So even if he didn’t like me and didn’t accept me in the end, I still want to send him off.”
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09:55 D
Her decision was based on the fact that Leonard had raised Jonathan.
Jonathan gently held Rosalie’s hand. “Don’t dwell on Grandpa’s final words. He just… It’s just…”
“I understand. He simply doesn’t believe that loving someone deeply can lead to a positive outcome. Due to what happened with your great-grandparents and your father’s tragedy, he’s… become fearful. Fearful that you, too, might meet a tragic fate,” Rosalie explained.
When she first arrived at the Youngblood residence with Jonathan, she had heard the story of the mansion’s history, particularly the tale of the bloodstained sword, which had left a lasting impression on her.
The shock she had felt upon learning that it was the story of his great-grandparents still resonated with her to this day.
She knew that Jonathan’s great-grandmother had taken the life of his great-grandfather and then raised Leonard on her own in that mansion. Rosalie could almost imagine that Leonard, who had grown up in a troubled environment, was made wary of love rather than expectant of it.
Perhaps the elderly man had never truly loved someone throughout his life.
“Actually, when you think about it, Grandpa is concerned about your well-being. That’s why he spoke those words on his deathbed,” Rosalie suggested.
“Really? He… would be concerned about me?” Jonathan sneered, glancing at Leonard’s lifeless body in the refrigerated casket. He then lowered his head and rested it on Rosalie’s shoulder.
“You’re his only family. He still has that familial affection for you.”
“But he cares more about the rise and fall of the Youngblood family than any so-called familial affection,” Jonathan murmured.
“Perhaps everyone has different priorities. It’s like a choice between a kingdom and a beloved. Some people cherish their kingdom more, while others value the beloved more. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to these forms of love,” Rosalie offered after some contemplation.
At that moment, Jonathan seemed like a lonely child in her
eyes.
