Secret Wealthy Marriage
Chapter 228: Time Flies (2)

Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Time Flies (2)

During that time, whenever she was free, she would go to accompany Grandpa Hawkins. He told her many things, saying that his biggest regret in this life was not being able to see his great-grandson from the Hawkins family, and that he had little time left.

At that moment, Carolline didn’t know why but she suddenly felt a sense of sadness. She excitedly grasped Grandpa Hawkins’s hand, "No, Grandpa, you do have a great-grandson. Axel is your great-grandson. Wait, I will bring him here for you to see and hold him, okay?"

Carolline cried as she called Andy Aguirre, asking him to bring Axel over from home. At that moment, she didn’t think much about anything else; she just wanted to fulfill the dying old man’s wish.

Andy brought Axel who was staring at his great-grandfather with his big, round, black eyes, his little mouth slightly raised. Grandpa Hawkins was so touched that tears filled his eyes. With Carolline’s assistance, he held Axel securely in his arms.

"Carolline, you are the great hero of our Hawkins family. I owe you a lot in this life; I’ll repay it to you in the next one." Grandpa Hawkins returned Axel to Carolline, "No matter what considerations you had for concealing such a significant matter from us, I believe you have your reasons. Don’t worry, even if I know that Axel is my great-grandson, it will not change anything. Carolline, thank you for all your efforts."

That was the longest and most coherent speech Grandpa Hawkins had made since being hospitalized. Carolline’s tears streamed down her face as she could not speak a word, knowing that Grandpa might leave them at any moment.

Birth, aging, illness, and death are natural parts of life that everyone experiences. However, at that moment, she felt somewhat overwhelmed.

"Don’t cry, Carolline. I’m not afraid of death. I’ve lived long enough. Give Bryan Cooper some time and let him be punished. Don’t blame him for the rest of his life. Axel needs a complete family." Grandpa Hawkins held Carolline’s hand with his trembling fingers, "Carolline, my time is running out. Take the child back and help me find your grandma and the others."

"Grandpa–" Carolline immediately stopped crying, looking at Grandpa Hawkins in disbelief.

She had heard that people close to death could predict how much time they had left. What did Grandpa’s words imply?

Grandpa Hawkins nodded at her. Carolline nearly collapsed. She handed Axel over to Andy and asked him to take him back home. Then she called Grandma Hawkins and the others. They were already on their way, knowing that, even with Carolline guarding the hospital, someone should remain close to the old man.

In just a few minutes, they arrived. Carolline left the ward, giving them the final time to bid farewell.

From then on, she continued living in G City along with the Hawkins family, although they didn’t meet often. After Grandpa Hawkins’s death, Grandma Hawkins was heartbroken; she shut herself in for three years, fulfilling her role as mournful widow.

When she emerged three years later, Grandma Hawkins seemed like a completely different person. Whenever Carolline encountered her, she would just give a small smile, greet her, and move on. Over the years, Carolline was never summoned to visit the Hawkins family again.

Soon, Carolline’s heart finally settled. The words Grandpa Hawkins had said were true, and he hadn’t lied to her. He had never told Grandma Hawkins about Axel’s identity. Otherwise, how could her life, and Axel’s, be so peaceful?

Even between Carolline and Andy, there had been no wedding, and Grandma Hawkins had never once questioned it.

Of course, Andy had eventually married Megan Clifton. Their wedding was low key, attended only by some close friends, family, and colleagues from the medical field.

Megan was quite career-driven. Until her career reached the heights she desired, she did not want to have children. Andy was completely devoted to her, sometimes excessively so, which nearly drove his mother crazy.