Leonardo went to Grandpa Emerson’s room. The maid standing at the door bowed and greeted him before she opened the door for him. After Leonardo entered, the maid closed the door.
Grandpa Emerson was still on the sofa, tilting his head back while leaning on his back. The TV was playing Chinese opera with the volume turned down.
Only when Leonardo came closer did he see that Grandpa Emerson had fallen asleep.
Leonardo did not make a sound. Grandpa Emerson suddenly opened his eyes, which looked murky, unlike the sharp eyes he used to have. He seemed to be stunned at seeing Leonardo. His pupils contracted, but his eyes quickly regained their clarity and sharpness.
“Ahh, you’re here.”
His voice was a little husky, and Leonardo felt that his words were not meant for him. Furrowing his brows and sitting beside Grandpa Emerson, he carefully scanned his grandpa.
Seeing Grandpa Emerson and thinking of Summer’s vacillation earlier, he finally figured out why. He could be cocky in front of Grandpa Emerson because Grandpa Emerson was tolerant of him. Grandpa Emerson liked him because he looked like him, and Grandpa Emerson did not mind that Leonardo was arrogant.
A sagacious person like Grandpa Emerson would not easily show the white feather in front of others. As the head of the family, Grandpa Emerson meant what he said, and Leonardo was used to seeing that. But when he saw on Grandpa Emerson’s face a tired and frail old man, he was startled.
“Are you all right?” Leonardo’s brows were knitted together as he asked.
Neither he nor Grandpa Emerson bought into each other’s words. They looked more like two equally-matched friends than grandfather and grandson.
Although Grandpa Emerson did not want him to pursue his mom’s death any further, and he had started to drift apart from Grandpa Emerson, he still cared a lot about his grandpa. Grandpa Emerson had his reason for wanting him to stop pursuing his mom’s case, but it should have nothing to do with his grandpa’s involvement in the case.
“It’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow. I am old and counting my days already. I just want to talk with you.” Grandpa Emerson looked at him. His expression was unfathomable.
“Just say whatever you want.” Leonardo felt a little annoyed when he heard Grandpa Emerson’s tone.
However, Grandpa Emerson was unfazed by his attitude. Instead, he smiled and said, “Of all the family members, you and Douglas are the most genuine in heart and soul. But too much of that is bad. Summer is young, her personality is so different from yours. She is a marvelous girl, but I don’t think she is ideal as your wife.”
Knowing that Leonardo was about to get angry, Grandpa Emerson smiled at him. “Don’t jump on me just yet. Let me finish.”
Leonardo hissed, leaning back and waiting for Grandpa Emerson to continue.
“She is patient. She never showed that she was annoyed even though I made her watch Chinese crosstalk for an hour. Her heart is in the right place, and she is pretty. I would have fallen for her if I were still young.”
Leonardo heard the last sentence and got worked up. He quirked an eyebrow with a sullen expression. “Old man, watch your words”
Grandpa Emerson’s brows rose as he forced his hand down on the sofa, then pointed at Leonardo. “You little rascal. Don’t you know I’m your grandpa no matter what? You peed on me when you were little, yet I never spanked you for that. Now you’re disrespecting me for a woman? I dare you to talk to Summer the way you talk to me.” Grandpa Emerson’s energetic expression looked so much at home.
Leonardo tilted his head, his expression calm. “As you say, she is still young. How can you compare yourself to her when you’re at this age?”
Grandpa Emerson flew off the handle. He grabbed the remote on the low table and hurled it at Leonardo.
Leonardo did not manage to dodge and got smacked in the face, sucking the pain through his teeth. He rubbed the sore spot and said, “You hit me when you can’t find a point of argument?”
“Leonardo, as long as we happily enjoy this New Year, I will tell you whatever you want to know and whatever I know.” Grandpa Emerson’s face was so grave, and his voice so solemn that Leonardo had never seen him like that before.
It turned out that this was what Grandpa Emerson really wanted to say. Leonardo was transfixed as both of them looked at each other in the eye. Leonardo sat up straight and found his words.
“Does this include my mom’s case?”
Grandpa Emerson nodded. “Yeah, including your mom’s case.”
Leonardo knew that Grandpa Emerson meant what he said and would not go back on his word. He pressed his lips together and acknowledged him. “Okay.”
…
When Leonardo left Grandpa Emerson’s room, it was 11 p. m. The light in the corridor was dim, and maids who were walking past greeted him with low voices. He acknowledged them and continued walking, his pace slow.
He was sure that his grandpa knew something but was not involved in his mom’s death. Grandpa Emerson knew about the truth, probably only after the kidnapping had happened.
When he first brought Summer back to see Grandpa Emerson, he was ordered not to pursue the case further. Since Grandpa Emerson was not involved, then there was only one reason for Grandpa Emerson to stop him from following up on the case: Grandpa Emerson was afraid that he would discover the truth.
Perhaps the truth was an unspeakable secret—something that no one should find out. It had to be something so difficult to digest and accept that even his grandpa, a veteran businessman who had seen enough of the world, found it hard to accept.
Now his grandpa wanted to tell him the truth. What was currently motivating his grandpa to do so?
As Leonardo came out of his thoughts, he found himself outside his room.
“Young Master, you haven’t slept yet?” asked a maid who was passing by.
Leonardo glanced back at the maid. The Emerson family had more maids than he could count, but what did that have to do with him?
He looked back at the door. Only the woman inside the room could ease his emotions. As he pushed himself in, Summer was coming up to him.
“How was it? What did Grandpa say to you? Did you find him strange?”
She was apparently waiting for him to return. She wanted to know, but he just walked in without a word.
Summer looked at his face, finding that he was just as strange as Grandpa Emerson after his return.