The one comfort was the growing unity within the family.
Abigail returned, and the emotional knots between Leo and the elders were untied.
The children grew day by day. Though external dangers still lurked, the family felt more like a family.
The warmth they shared increased.
After dinner, Leo went upstairs to chat with his grandfather.
Emerson, wearing his reading glasses, was engrossed in a book.
Seeing Leo, he put it down and smiled cheerfully.
"Leo, you're here!" Emerson said, removing his glasses.
Leo helped him put the glasses back in their case and said, "Grandpa, you're looking better every day."
"Yes, Blake found a good doctor who saved these old bones of mine," Emerson replied with a grin.
"Blake was really worried about your illness, searching everywhere for better doctors. I did nothing for you—I'm truly ashamed," Leo said, sitting on the bed beside him, overwhelmed by guilt.
"Nonsense, family doesn't need to be so formal. Blake is your brother. He has his thoughts, and you have yours," Emerson patted his shoulder.
"I'm glad to see you becoming mature and strong."
Maturity and strength come at a cost, Leo thought bitterly.
Every man must go through this.
"Do you want me to be this way, grandpa?" Leo murmured, as if questioning himself.
Emerson paused, then patted his shoulder again and laughed, "To be honest, I rather liked your fearless spirit back then. Remember how arrogantly you'd argue with me? What a young man you were."
Leo's face flushed. Looking back on his past actions and words, he realized he had been quite the rogue.
"Grandpa, please don't tease me about the past. I was so arrogant back then," Leo said, embarrassed.
"Everyone was young once. What's the big deal about being reckless? You really ticked me off back then. But thinking about it now, it's kind of funny. Life's like a journey. You look back later and see that none of it really matters. We've all got to move forward." Emerson said with a touch of emotion.
Leo was stunned and said self-mockingly, "Look forward, huh?"
"Enough. I can see you're burdened with worries. Did you break up with someone?"
Emerson's perceptiveness caught Leo off guard.
"No, Grandpa. Rest well. I'll be going," Leo didn't dare delve deeper, fearing he might slip up.
Judging by Emerson's state, he probably knew nothing of it yet. Leo hoped Emerson could stay that way forever, shielded from the world's ugliness and the fact that Richard was a thoroughgoing jerk.
Emerson was eager to chat more, but Leo left in a hurry. Hearing Emerson sigh, he quickened his pace.
Once downstairs, Leo said goodbye to Abigail in the living room and left by car.
Night fell.
Meanwhile, Jessica and Cedrick's situation continued to escalate, trending online.
Jessica had just come out of the bath, holding a white towel to dry the water from her long hair.
Cedrick, in a gray robe, sat in his study dealing with some stuff.
The doorbell rang suddenly, startling both of them.
Jessica hurried out of her bedroom and met Cedrick's deep, captivating gaze.
"So late, who could it be?" she muttered.
"It might be Benjamin. Hurry up and put on your pajamas and stay back for now," Cedrick said softly.
If it was Benjamin, Jessica would need to avoid him.
"It's my mom!" Cedrick's expression turned pale—he recognized Tabitha from the video.
"Ah!" Jessica paled. She hadn't expected Tabitha to come at this hour. This time, she truly had to meet Cedrick's mother.
Cedrick ran a hand over his forehead. Even he, usually so sharp and composed, felt a headache coming on.
"Why didn't she call before rushing back?" he said, exasperated.
"What do we do now? Should I hide?" Jessica was mentally prepared to hide into the closet.
"No need. You have to meet her sooner or later," Cedrick's lips curled into a smile. "Go change into your pajamas."
"Sure." Jessica knew hiding was futile. She might as well face it.
Cedrick watched her enter the room, then straightened his robe and opened the door.