Finn’s heart clenched, a lingering sense of panic that wouldn’t go away. He rubbed his hands, trying to massage away the sudden onset of pain, but the feeling persisted, not very painful, but subtly suffocating, like being submerged underwater.
He glanced at his phone, this late Aoife would be sleeping.
Usually, if he needed to ask Aoife what she was doing at home, he would call Linda, as whenever he called Aoife, she wouldn’t know how to respond.
Finn was about to call Aoife when the driver in front spoke, “Mr. Snearl, we’ve arrived.”
Finn put away his phone and got out of the car. A raindrop fell on the corner of his eye, he brushed it away, and looked up at the misty sky, rain was falling.
Finn quickened his pace as he entered the Burns residence. The servant who saw him respectfully called out, “Mr. Snearl.”
“Where is Old Burns?”
“He’s upstairs, sir…” Before she could finish, Finn had bypassed her, rushing upstairs anxiously.
Old Burns had a relapse, two hours ago, Professor Lee had performed an emergency treatment on him, and he was currently receiving fluids.
“Grandfather.”
Old Burns squinted one eye open, “Why are you here?”
Finn scanned the room but didn’t see Professor Lee, “Where is Dr. Dankworth who was treating you?”
The old butler interjected, “He’s gone back, Mr. Snearl, what do you need him for?”
“Aoife needs a craniotomy, and the hospital says only he can perform the surgery for her to have a chance of survival…”
As he spoke, there was no need for further explanation. Old Burns looked at him, his gaze cold, a cryptic expression on his lips.
“So it’s all because of Aoife, no wonder you’re calling me grandfather now.”
Finn lowered his head, clenched his hand on his thigh, then knelt down, “Grandfather, I’ve never asked you for anything in my life, this is the first time I’m asking you, please save Aoife. Seeing that she gave birth to two great-grandchildren for you, if she dies, I won’t live either…”
Old Burns stared at him for a while before saying, “The one you should be asking is not me, but the Dankworth family.”
Finn was stunned.
“Do you not know Professor Dankworth’s background? Daniel, Lily’s nominal uncle, he is from the Dankworth family.”
Although Daniel was adopted into the Dankworth family, and there was no blood relation, the favor outweighed blood ties. With all the trouble Finn had caused them – fleeing from the engagement ceremony, making Lily the subject of ridicule in the industry, and orchestrating a car accident to harm her a few months ago, how could Finn think the Dankworth family would agree, and Daniel would help Finn save Aoife?
There were too many surnames Dankworth, and Finn had mistakenly thought it was just a coincidence when he first heard it. He thought it was a doctor that Old Burns had personally invited.
So many assumptions, all stemming from his own arrogance. Finn’s face drained of color.
Old Burns continued, “I once taught you, leave yourself a way out in everything you do, don’t walk down a dead-end path. You think I arranged for you to marry Lily just for a simple alliance? Finn, I asked for your opinion at the time, you agreed to marry Lily of your own accord. Your escape was a breach of trust, who will believe you in the future? You’re in the business world, you can’t violate your reputation. Those videos were handed to Lily by me, to calm her down, but you were thinking about revenge against Aoife, arranging for a car to hit her. Fortunately, she’s fine. If she had been hurt, do you think you’d still be here?”
“Grandfather, I…”
Old Burns interrupted him, “Finn, no one will indulge your bad temper. The path you chose, you must walk alone. If you want to save Aoife, go kneel at the Dankworth family’s door and beg Lily.”
Finn stood up in silence, turned and left the room without a backward glance. He went downstairs and got into the car, instructing the driver to head to the Dankworth family.
His knees were slightly aching, he rubbed them, his face growing paler. He appeared as if holding a good hand in a card game, only to have it ruined by fate, that was him now.
How much did Lily hate him and Aoife, he didn’t need to think, she would let Daniel save Aoife?
Finn’s mind was filled with Old Burns’ words, and he thought back to what Lily had said to him in the past.
“Finn, you will regret this.”
Yes, he regretted. He regretted the harm he had caused to Aoife. If he had not agreed to the alliance with the Dankworth family in the first place, none of this would have happened.
Finn took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, then decided to call Lily. His hand trembled as he held the phone.
The phone rang once and was then hung up. He dialed again, only to be hung up on once more. He called five times in a row, and finally the other person answered out of impatience.
“What’s the matter?”
“Are you at home?”
“Yes, why?”
“I have something very important to discuss with you. Please make time to meet me.”
“Please?” Lily chuckled at the word. Every time Finn had never cared for her, now suddenly he was so polite. “Mr. Snearl, it’s a rare sight to see you contacting me first and being courteous. But I’m busy today, and I don’t want to see you. Ever since the last Burns family dinner where you said those things to me, I don’t want to see you again.”
“Miss Dankworth, I really have something important to ask you, I’m willing to do anything.”
This humble Finn was a first for Lily, making her curious about what could make Finn set aside his pride and arrogance to beg her.
“Fine, seeing you like this, I’ll reluctantly meet you. When do you want to meet?”
“In half an hour.”
“Okay.” Just after hanging up, Lily received another call, from Grandfather Li. What was happening today? The two of them calling her together, she picked up the phone…
Finn briefly exhaled, told the driver to drive faster, and on the way, he pondered countless ways to appease Lily and get Dr. Dankworth to save Aoife.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t come up with a good outcome. He knew Lily was vindictive, and perhaps, no matter what he did, she wouldn’t relent.
In less than half an hour, he arrived at the Dankworth family mansion. The gate was closed, and there were only guards and servants at the entrance.
“I have an appointment with Miss Dankworth to discuss something, could you inform her?”
“Miss has already informed us, she said she would come out to meet you if you kneel here for half an hour.” In broad daylight, in front of bystanders, no one would kneel, let alone someone like Finn, who valued his dignity above all.
Seeing his displeasure, the servant guessed he might turn around and leave, but instead, he took a step back and knelt down slowly on the ground, his already injured knees growing more painful.
“As long as she agrees to see me, I will kneel as long as it takes.”
“Mr. Snearl, why bother…” The servant knew she couldn’t persuade him if he was resolute, so she left him to it.
He knelt on the ground, and before long, it started raining…