As Tiana ran out of the house, Tristan instinctively moved to shield her behind him.
Tiana's voice was choked with sobs, her eyes red. "Brother, you're finally back."
"How's Grandma?"
"Dr. Lane said... she might not even last ten days."
"Mm." Tristan's expression didn't flicker. He answered curtly and headed inside.
She, however, was still reeling from what Tiana had just said, unable to process it. 'She can't even last ten days? So that's why Tristan wanted me to keep up this act with him for ten more days—because Grandma is dying.'
The thought of the gentle, kind grandmother made her chest tighten, and her eyes grew moist. "Tiana, is Grandma... really not going to make it?"
"Yes, Grandma is really, really sick this time." Tiana started crying and threw herself into her arms. "I'm so scared... I'm so scared Grandma's really going to leave us."
"Tiana, take me to see Grandma..."
"Okay."
...
Grandma's room was on the second floor. The moment they got upstairs, the thick smell of traditional medicine filled the air.
When they reached Grandma's room, they saw Tristan kneeling by the bed, tightly gripping her hand.
Grandma's mouth was opening and closing, as if she were trying to say something to Tristan. Seeing this, her tears finally broke free, rolling down her cheeks in large drops.
Just then, Tristan stood up from the bedside and walked over to her. In a hoarse, heavy voice, he said, "Let's go."
With that, he left the room first, and she followed close behind.
Seeing his trembling shoulders, her own heart ached faintly for him. 'Grandma is the person Tristan is closest to in this family. He must be heartbroken right now.'
But there was nothing she could do. Nothing except watch Tristan grieve.
Just as she was about to catch up to Tristan, he suddenly quickened his pace. She had to break into a light jog to keep up, but it seemed he was deliberately trying to avoid walking with her.
Once she understood, she stopped trying to catch him.
She slowed her steps, letting the distance between them grow. Tristan slowed down as well.
She watched Tristan and gave a self-deprecating smile. 'Yesterday, I hated him enough to want him dead. Today, I don't feel a shred of that hatred. I even feel sorry for him.'
He'd married a woman he didn't love in a desperate attempt to bring his grandmother good fortune, but in the end, Grandma still couldn't escape sickness and death.
'He has every right to hate me, doesn't he? After all, it's because of me that he can't be with the person he loves.'
While she was lost in thought, Tristan had already gotten into the car.
He was pinching the bridge of his nose, leaning back against the seat with a look of utter exhaustion and helplessness on his face.
Seeing Tristan like this, she desperately wanted to go to him, wrap her arms around him, and tell him that even if Grandma left, she wouldn't leave him.
But she had no right to say such things. Even if she did, a man like Tristan Grayson wouldn't care.
With tears welling in her eyes, she got into the car and sat quietly beside him.
'Maybe this is for the best—just staying by his side, keeping him company.'
How she wished time could freeze in this moment, even if only for a few more seconds.
A tingling sensation stung her nose. She quickly turned her head to look out the window as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
No matter how hard she tried to suppress it, Tristan still heard the woman's sobs.
He looked up, extremely agitated, and barked at the driver in front, "What are you waiting for? Drive!"
"Yes, sir. Right away." Cold sweat beaded on the driver's forehead. He wouldn't have dared to leave without the Young Master's order.