Unmasking the Heiress

Evangeline's eyes were wide with disbelief.

Cole could not just randomly bring up happiness and Walter without a reason.

"Grandpa, let's not talk about this, okay? Dr. George said your surgery went really well, and you're not going anywhere!"

The fear of losing her grandfather wrapped around her, and she could not bear to hear any more of that from him.

Cole offered a weak smile. "Evie, everyone's got to face the big four: being born, getting old, getting sick, and dying. Even if I pull through this time, I can't dodge the final curtain. "Don't be scared, okay?"

Cole's smile was as warm and gentle as ever, his frail, aged hand reaching out to stroke Evangeline's hair, just like he did when she was a little girl.

"I won't!" Evangeline's tears had broken free, spilling onto the blanket that lay over Cole. "I want Grandpa to stay with me forever. I can't stand the thought of being apart from you!"

Cole could not help but smile, "Oh, my silly Evie, you're still so young. If I stayed with you forever, wouldn't I become some kind of immortal goblin?"

He spoke slowly, but for him, it was as quick as he could manage.

A coughing fit seized him as he struggled to clear his throat.

Evangeline quickly moved to soothe her grandfather, while the Foster family's five brothers rushed to his side, all calling out together, "Dad!"

The Foster brothers were always the talk of the town, but at that moment, their eyes were bloodshot with grief as they looked at the old man in the bed.

Cole gestured to them. "You're all smart, you know how life goes. Birth, aging, sickness, death-it's all part of the deal."

He caught his breath and sighed, trying to comfort them, then looked straight at Evangeline. "Evie, all I want is for you to be happy, you get that? If this baby isn't going to make you happy, then I hope you'll make the right choice." He gripped Evangeline's hand with all the strength he had left.

Evangeline felt no physical pain, but the weight of his grip was like a ton.

"Grandpa, you've known all along, haven't you?"

Cole remained silent, his eyes cast downward.

Evangeline could scarcely believe such a response.

She had convinced herself that her grandfather, with his advancing years, had lost the sharpness of his younger days. She and Walter had put on what they thought was a flawless performance in front of him. How could he have possibly seen through it?

Still, he had made a point to mention his great-grandson andBelongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

ned the topic of stel

or leaving.

The truth was starkly apparent. Their little schemes had stood no chance against her grandfather's insight.

Cole's voice, frail and fading, continued. "Evie, will you promise me?" he whispered.

Evangeline did not hesitate, her head bobbing in a rapid nod. "I promise, 1 promise, Grandpa. Whatever you want, as long as you get better, I'll promise you anything!"

"That's good... Now I can... rest... easy..."

The heart monitor let out a deafening beep, its once erratic line then a hauntingly still horizon.

Just like that, the life of the once mighty Cole was extinguished from the world...

The Foster brothers stood united by the bedside.

Evangeline collapsed onto Cole's icy form, her sobs tearing through the silence.

"Grandpa! Grandpa, please wake up..."

Cole was gone. The man who had been at times stern, at times gentle, had left that world for good.

It was her fault, all her fault.