It wasn't only Aurora who appeared to be sobbing,Clara Leon looked away hiding her tears. She pulled her hands off Aurora's grip and fetched a tissue paper. She stretched her hand and offered Aurora one and she took it, cleaning her tears too.
Adrian knew both of them were sobbing,not for pains or sorrow,but for being pleased with him. He didn't mind their silent sob, he continued:
“When grandfather insisted that I should marry your daughter, I thought he was being old fashioned,not considerate nor did he know the feelings of the heart.
I thought I knew better but I was a fool. Grandfather was offering me my life saver and I didn't realize it. He was insisting that I hold onto an asset of an inestimable price,but I was mad at his dictates.
That made me swear to never have anything to do with your daughter. I vowed to make her miserable and I swear, I did just that.
But I was privileged to be given a second chance. It was late when I realised that I had hurt an innocent woman with a heart of gold.
And I want to say thank you, Aurora, for giving me another chance. Thank you for taking this senseless me back into your heart and thank you for Elsie.
My life would have been miserable without you both. You and Elsie, are the most important people in my life and you are the greatest gift that life could ever offer anyone…”Adrian appreciated,his eyes turning slightly reddish.
Aurora smiled through her tears. Now,he loves her like she loves him. Their feelings for each other are now mutual and she could never ask for a happier life with anyone else except Adrian.
Clara Leon stood up, her tears cascading down her cheeks uncontrollably “Excuse me”’ she managed to say and hurried her steps into her room.
She went before her husband's large portrait on the wall and went down gently before it. She let her tears flow down freely now.
She sobbed for a while before saying “did you hear that Sam. He came back to confess his love for our daughter. Ava is happy with him, they have a daughter, we are grandparents now,Sam…” she paused and sobbed more.
“I know you are happy,Sam. Initially we thought that we'd lost our daughter. Your heart was filled with pain for your daughter till you died. But now, those pains have become a joyful feeling.
Please bless our daughter and Adrian from heaven. Make them happy forever. Please make them happy….” Clara requested, amidst tears, holding her husband's portrait now.
Meanwhile, as Clara left, Adrian glanced at Aurora, he saw her tear filled eyes,then her eyes filled with bliss and happiness, he stood up, got closer to her and stretched forth his hand to her.
Aurora was waiting for just that. She accepted his hand and Adrian pulled her up to himself. Circling his hands around her waist, he gazes dotingly into her eyes.
“Once I resented you before your parents but today, I am privileged to redeem my stupidity and foolish past. I love you my Ava Leon. You're my greatest gift and I will love you forever…” he confessed.
“I love you too, Adrian…” Aurora confessed, her voice shaking and her tears drying and leaving dry patches behind.
They don't know how long they gazed into each other's eyes, but at that moment, nothing seemed to matter anymore,no one existed in the world except just the two of them.
Gently, Adrian bent over to take her lips and Aurora closed her eyes, in full anticipation….
Next morning, Patrick woke up with a call from his mom. She'd been visiting the Lester mansion more frequently now than before but for the first time since they've got together, she stayed out for the night.
He knew she was definitely with his dad. He wished they could just have a quiet wedding and stay happy for the rest of their lives, but he doesn't want to have a cross with Adrian over it.
“I just called your brother now. You should be coming over to the Lester mansion, your grandfather is in a delicate condition…” Luna spoke.
His grandfather? Hmmm he'd become a grandson to the old man of the Lester family. How amazing. He jumped out of bed and went to relieve himself.
By the time Patrick drove to the Lester mansion, He saw Aurora shedding tears silently, she was standing by the sidelines with Luna Wesley.
He glanced at the two women briefly and didn't wait but got in and went towards grandfather's bedroom. He saw Richard step out, his eyes reddened. He shook his head and didn't say anything.
Patrick knew something terrible had happened to grandfather. He dashed in and found Adrian by grandfather's body, laying his head on his chest sobbing profusely.
“Adrian!” Patrick called and the latter raised his head and stared at his brother, his eyes reddened and tears filled.
“What happened to grandfather?” Patrick asked as he went forward and went to cup his old wrinkled face in his palm and shook him.
But grandfather neither responded to him nor was he breathing. That was when Patrick knew he was dead. “Grandfather, grandfather” he screamed out.
He knelt by his side still cupping his face in his palm and he started sobbing too. He'd never felt this touched before. When his foster father Connor died, he didn't feel this sharp pain he now feels in his heart.
Is this caused by the bond he shared with this man, that he'd known for many years first as Adrian's grandfather and then he realised that he was his grandfather too.
Aurora couldn't stay out anymore. Richard stepped out with reddened eyes but had refused to say a word. Patrick got in and next they heard his air renting screams.
She dashed forward and Luna Wesley followed her. Richard didn't try to stop them, he just stayed out, and kept fighting back his tears.
When Aurora saw Adrian and then Patrick, she understood. Grandfather laid calmly like he was sleeping but his sons were sobbing.
She went forward and pushed Adrian aside, and touched grandfather's chest region. She couldn't feel his breathing, rather his body had gradually become cold.
Aurora stayed calm. Grandfather is dead. Once she saved his life but this time,no one could save him.
As Luna stood by the sidelines, She remembered father's last words to her and Richard and her eyes welled up with tears…