Callie sensed the implication in his words, “Grandpa, you’re upset.”
Nelson continued typing on the keyboard, handling business matters. “Breaking bones still leaves the tendons connected. Blood ties can never be cut off; being upset is normal.”
“Grandpa, you’ve reached an age where even the oldest of us are in our sixties or seventies. At your age, you probably don’t want to see such things,” Callie said thoughtfully, pouring him a glass of water.
“Who would want to?” Nelson looked up. “Dale should have expected this day when he conspired against me with outsiders.”
He was never one to let grudges go, especially when betrayed by family.
Callie nodded.
“Are we going back to the old mansion for New Year’s?”
Nelson paused his typing, took the glass of water from her hand, set it down gently, and then pulled her into his arms with a sigh. “Yes.”
Callie smiled and sat on his lap, running her fingers through his prickly hair.
“Do you think I’m too harsh?” He buried his head in her embrace, inhaling her sweet scent.
“No,” Callie whispered. “Those days in Afupshire were tough for you. I understand.”
“It’s not that,” Nelson countered. “If that incident hadn’t happened, you wouldn’t have come with me to Afupshire, wouldn’t have had the car accident, and wouldn’t have had to beg Ahmad for help. Callie, you don’t need to remember all this; I’ll remember it for you.”
In his heart, Dale and the others were the instigators, and he intended to settle the score.
Hearing this, Callie felt a warm surge in her heart. Her grievances had never been forgotten by him.
This year, Ylosea had no snow; it was a warm winter with clear skies and calm weather.
The Oconnor family had a peaceful time. On New Year’s Eve morning, Callie woke up to find two red packets, one from Nelson and one from Reuben.
Reuben had stuffed a thousand dollars inside, making it feel thick. She joked, “Reuben, did you give me all your retirement money?”
Reuben flicked a coin at her forehead. “Just take it and don’t worry about it.”
Callie laughed happily. She hadn’t received red packets for many years, but in the past two years, she had. It wasn’t about the money; it was the feeling of being cared for that made her happy.
Nelson’s packet was thin. She was dissatisfied. “Reuben’s packet was thick. Why are you so stingy?”
The man chuckled and kissed her lips. “Open it and see.”
She curiously opened it to find a bank card inside.
“The password is our wedding anniversary.”
Callie raised an eyebrow. “How much is in there?”
“Money-grubber, you’ll find out when you go to the bank.”
She pestered him until Nelson had no choice but to show her a number with his fingers: 24.
She tilted her head. 24 was her age this year.
“Two thousand four hundred?”
Nelson got up to leave.
“Twenty-four thousand?” Callie grabbed his hand.
Nelson pinched her cheek.
She guessed higher. “It can’t be two hundred forty thousand, can it?” That would be as much as two of her project bonuses!
The man leaned down helplessly and whispered in her ear, “Twenty-four million.”
“Ah!” Callie exclaimed in shock, utterly incredulous. “Why are you giving me so much money?”
“New Year’s money,” Nelson said calmly, patting her head. “The little girl is a year older; she needs a good start.”
To him, this amount wasn’t significant. He always thought that if he wasn’t around, she should have something to rely on.
“It’s too much, Nelson…” Callie still couldn’t process it.
“Take it.”
Truly wealthy and generous, Callie couldn’t help but wonder how much personal wealth he had and how many more twenty-four million dollars he possessed.