Derek stood outside the intensive care unit.
His face was cold and gloomy.
The tears on Lauren’s face were dried. Seeing Derek like that, she immediately pulled his arm.
“Derek, your father, hasn’t told you about the will yet. He asked Ernest in and may talk something about that with Ernest. You should enter and have a look,” Lauren whispered.
She was worried that others would hear her, so she did not dare to raise her voice.
Derek turned to glance at Lauren with his cold eyes. But he didn’t respond and move.
Lauren saw that Derek was indifferent. She planned to come in by herself but was stopped by Marcel.
It was Dalton’s secretary.
Lauren glared at Marcel, “You dare to stop me?”
“Mrs. Maynard, Mr. Dalton only allowed Mr. Ernest to come in. Other people need to wait for the order.”
“Other people? I am his wife!” Lauren roared.
“Mrs. Maynard, don’t shout here. Mr. Dalton is on his deathbed. He hasn’t seen Mr. Derek for a long time and wants to talk to Mr. Derek alone before he dies. Mrs. Maynard, why are you so nervous?”
Marcel’s words suppressed Lauren’s arrogance.
“You are nervous. I don’t. I just want to come in and take a look.” Lauren returned to her original position.
In the intensive care unit.
Ernest walked to the bedside slowly. Dalton had many tubes inserted into his body. The instruments around him made different sounds.
“Grandpa…”
Ernest called gently.
Dalton opened his eyes. When he saw Ernest, he smiled and raised his hand with difficulty.
Ernest knelt on the ground and grabbed Dalton’s hand, “Grandpa, I am here. I am Ernest.”
“Ernest…” Dalton was weak and powerless. He had to hold on until now.
“Grandpa, what do you want to say?”
“Ernest,” Dalton looked at Ernest, “The Saint Group … I’ll leave it to you. You have to carry it forward.”
“Grandpa?” Ernest looks at Dalton in horror.
He thought in mind, ‘Is this grandpa’s last words? He wanted me to inherit the Saint Group?
‘It is impossible!’
“Ernest … you have to … work hard…”
“Grandpa, I…”
“Promise me.”
Ernest was in complicated feeling at the moment. He never thought about inheriting the Saint Group because he disliked the fights inside the Group and couldn’t stand the everyday busy life. He liked to perform and act only.
“Promise me…”
“I promise you, Grandpa,” Ernest had no choice but to agree first. The rest of the things could be dealt with later.
Dalton nodded. He turned to stare at the ceiling, tears slowly flowing from his eyes.
“Rafael … Rafael…”
“Grandpa…” Ernest kept looking at Dalton until his eyes lost their vigor…
Then, Dalton’s hand fell, and his eyes closed.
“Grandpa!”
Hearing the heart-wrenching screams, Derek and Lauren immediately rushed in.
…
The news of Dalton’s death was soon released.
Everyone knew that the Saint Group was a family business of the Maynard family. Dalton was the biggest contributor who made the Group the first in the world.
His son, Derek, was also competent. In the face of two financial crises, he was able to turn the tide so that the Saint Group would not be affected.
Because of Dalton’s great contribution to the economy of City Z, his funeral would last for six days.
The Maynards set up a mourning hall in Maynard for people to offer their condolences.
Lauren, wearing a black mourning dress, couldn’t stop her tears. Derek was expressionless, so was Ernest.
They were the only three closest people to Dalton. The rest of the relatives were from the branch of the Maynard family. So, the funeral wake was naturally done by the three of them.
Lauren stood up and patted Ernest on the shoulder, “Ernest, come with me.”
“OK.” Ernest followed her.
They walked to the break room at the back of the hall. Lauren ordered the servants to offer a glass of water for Ernest.
“Ernest, the funeral is tiring. You are still young. If you are tired, just have a rest. Don’t be embarrassed. We are family.”
Lauren looked amiable.
“It doesn’t matter, Grandma. I am an adult. You should pay attention to your health.”
“I’m glad that you have grown up and known how to care for others. Sit down for a rest.” Lauren patted the sofa next to her.
Ernest sat next to Lauren.
“Ernest, what did your grandpa say to you?” Lauren tried to ask.
Ernest was shocked. He couldn’t tell Lauren about that.
He didn’t want to inherit the Saint Group at all.
“Grandpa … I couldn’t hear what he said clearly. At that time, he was in his delirium, held my hand, and called my mother’s name.”
“Your mother’s name?”
“Yes, maybe he missed her.”
“Didn’t he tell you anything else?”
Ernest shook his head, “No, he is talking about something, but I can’t hear clearly.”
“Is that so?”
Ernest drank all the water and was worried that Lauren would continue to ask, “Grandma, I’m going outside. Uncle
Derek hasn’t had anything since this morning. I’ll ask him to come over to rest.”
“Alright, go ahead.”
After a while, Derek came. He was listless, like a walking corpse.
Lauren ordered a servant to serve some pastries.
“Derek, how can you be so listless? Your father had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, and we were completely unprepared. We don’t even know if he made a will.”
There was no one else here. Lauren didn’t need to hide her words.
“I asked Ernest just now. He has grown up and maybe lied to me.”
Derek let out a sigh, “Let’s talk about that after the funeral.”
“It will be too late. What if your father has made Ernest the heir?”
Derek looked at Lauren. He did not have the energy to think about the will.
“Ernest is not an outsider. If Dad did as you said, then I will help Ernest. Since we are family, there is no difference.”
“You fool!” Lauren never thought that Derek would have such thoughts.