Rebirth to take revenge
Chapter 150: Mr. Celine

Chapter 150: Mr. Celine

The old lady sighed softly. "Josh, why haven’t you been coming back? Do you know how worried I’ve been? My legs... I can’t move around easily, so I couldn’t go to see you at the company myself."

Josh lowered his head in guilt. "It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone, Grandmother."

"You’re still a filial child." the old lady gave a faint smile.

Josh sat beside her, watching her weathered face. "Grandmother, did you call me back for something important?"

the old lady’s expression grew serious. "Josh, I know your relationship with your father isn’t good. But he’s still your father. No matter what, I hope the two of you can reconcile. I don’t want to see father and son turn into enemies."

Josh was silent for a moment before nodding. "I understand what you mean, Grandmother."

"You’re a good child," the old lady said approvingly. She suddenly grasped his hand, her tone solemn. "But listen carefully, Josh—no matter what happens, you must hold onto the Greg family’s stocks. If anyone takes them away, our family will fall apart. Do you understand?"

Josh’s eyes dimmed slightly, but he nodded. He understood all too well the importance of the Greg Corporation to the family. Like vultures, everyone in the family circled this empire, waiting to sink their claws into it.

The old lady sighed heavily. "Josh, I’ve made many mistakes in my life, but holding this family together has always been my top priority. I hope you’ll understand someday."

Josh studied his grandmother’s frail but determined figure. After a moment, he spoke quietly. "Grandmother, I’ll handle things. But tell me honestly—what happened twenty-five years ago.

The old lady frowned. "Are you talking about that incident?"

"Yes," Josh said firmly.

The old lady face clouded. She shook her head. "That was a long time ago. I’ve long forgotten the details."

Josh’s gaze turned sharp. "Don’t lie to me, Grandmother. I heard with my own ears how my father threatened you back then. Tell me—is it true?"

Emma’s breath hitched. She looked up, startled by his sudden aggression. "Josh, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Josh clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. His voice trembled with anger. "Why did you lie to me all these years? I believed you, and I turned my back on my father because of you! Do you realize what you’ve done? You destroyed my parents’ marriage and made me resent my own father!"

Emma’s hands shook on the arms of her wheelchair. "Josh... I did it for your own good!"

"For my good?!" Josh’s voice rose, his bloodshot eyes glaring at her. "Did you ever think about how this would affect me? How tearing my family apart would break me?"

The old lady tried to calm herself, but she couldn’t hide her fear. "Josh, I’m your grandmother. I would never harm you!"

Josh snorted coldly. "Stop lying to me. You manipulated me because you saw me as a pawn—someone you could control to protect your so-called legacy. But you were wrong, Grandmother. I won’t let you use me anymore."

The old lady’s face turned deathly pale, and her pupils shrank as she realized Josh had seen through her entirely.

"Josh, you’re mistaken! I only want what’s best for you and the Greg family. You must believe me!" she pleaded desperately.

"Elder? Don’t try to use that as an excuse," Josh shot back sharply. "I’m not a child anymore, and I’m certainly not someone you can manipulate."

The old lady gasped, her chest heaving. "Josh... what do you know?"

"I’ve investigated what happened back then."

The old lady’s face went rigid. She struggled to breathe, her eyes wide with panic.

"You... How could you...?"

Josh’s voice was cold and unwavering. "Because I needed the truth. For too long, I lived under your lies."

Emma’s chest heaved violently as she tried to suppress her anger. "You... You’re speaking nonsense!" she shouted, tears rolling down her wrinkled face.

Before Josh could respond, Emma coughed violently, blood suddenly spilling from her mouth.

"Grandmother!" Josh’s anger turned to alarm as he rushed to her side.

The old woman trembled, her face ashen, before her body fell limp, unconscious in her wheelchair.

"Doctor!" Josh shouted as he scooped her frail body into his arms, panic tightening his chest.

Moments later, the doctor arrived. After a thorough examination, he stood up and reassured Josh.

"Young Master Josh, it’s her heart condition acting up. She needs rest and time to recover. I’ll prescribe some medication to stabilize her condition."

Josh exhaled in relief. "Thank you, doctor."

The doctor smiled sympathetically. "It’s my duty, Young Master Josh. Don’t worry. As long as she avoids stress, she’ll be fine."

When the doctor left, Josh turned to look at his unconscious grandmother. A whirlwind of emotions churned in his heart—anger, guilt, and helplessness.

He knew that the only one who could properly cure his grandma’s illness was Claire from the Smith family, but she would never accept Claire. No matter how capable she was, Emma would never look past her origins.

Josh turned toward the door, his footsteps heavy with fatigue.

But as he opened it, he froze. A tall figure stood outside, waiting quietly.

It was his father Mr. Celine

Josh was surprised to see his father, Mr. Celine, standing in front of him.

"Josh," Mr. Celine said with a solemn expression, "I have something to discuss with you. Let’s move to the study."

"Alright," Josh replied, though a flicker of unease rose within him.

The two walked into the study. Josh sat down on the sofa, staring at his father. After a moment of silence, he finally said, "Dad, just tell me what’s on your mind."

Mr. Celine hesitated for a second, then took a deep breath. "Josh, your grandmother’s condition is because of Claire," he said firmly.

Josh’s pupils contracted slightly at the statement. "I know," he said in a calm but heavy tone.

"You knew?" Mr. Celine’s face showed surprise, but the weight in his eyes deepened.

"Yes, I’ve known for some time," Josh admitted.

Mr. Celine sighed as he took a seat across from Josh, his eyes studying his son intently. After a moment, he asked, "What’s Claire’s current attitude toward all of this?"

Josh frowned slightly, feeling an underlying tension in his father’s voice. He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this conversation was about to take a darker turn.

"Dad, what does Claire’s attitude have to do with me?" Josh asked, keeping his tone light but wary.

"Josh," Mr. Celine began, his voice tinged with remorse, "you’ve resented me all these years."

Josh met his father’s eyes but said nothing, his silence an acknowledgment of a truth too complicated to voice.

"You blame me for what happened to your mother," Mr. Celine pressed on. "For separating her from you."

Josh lowered his gaze, unable to meet his father’s probing eyes. After a pause, he quietly asked, "Why did you do it, Dad?"

Mr. Celine’s shoulders sank, and his face bore the weight of decades of regret. "Josh, I never had a choice. Back then, your grandmother acted to save our family. What she did hurt you deeply, but she believed it was necessary."

Josh clenched his fists. "You always say it was for the family, but what about me? What about Mom?"

Mr. Celine’s voice softened. "Your grandmother acted as she thought best. I went along with it, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped regretting it for a second." He hesitated, then added, "I owe Claire an apology. I’ve spent all this time trying to find her and make amends."

Josh’s eyes flickered with a mixture of anger and resignation. "Dad, you don’t owe me an explanation anymore. It doesn’t change anything."

Mr. Celine’s expression tightened. "Josh, I just hope that you won’t let this anger drive a wedge further into the family. No matter what, Claire is your sister."

"Dad!" Josh snapped, his frustration boiling over. "I’ve never done anything to hurt Claire. Why would I now?"

"Good," Mr. Celine said, breathing a sigh of relief. "That’s all I wanted to hear. I’ll talk to your grandmother and try to help her see reason."

Josh nodded but didn’t reply. His mind raced with thoughts of his grandmother, the weight of their history pressing on his shoulders.

As Mr. Celine left the room, he glanced over his shoulder and added, "Josh, when Claire is discharged, I’d like you to bring her to see your grandmother. She’ll need your support."

Josh froze, his father’s request sparking an unease he couldn’t quite explain. "Alright, Dad. I’ll handle it."

Satisfied, Mr. Celine left, leaving Josh alone to confront the whirlpool of emotions within him.

---

When Josh returned to the Greg family villa, night had already fallen. The once vibrant mansion felt eerily desolate, its hallways empty and silent. He walked upstairs to his grandmother’s room and pushed open the door.

The room was dimly lit. His grandmother lay on the bed, her frail form barely stirring. Her pale face appeared even more delicate under the muted light.