Chapter 842
Just hearing about the injuries Khloe and Nick had suffered over the past days made Loretta brush tears away again and again. How could she blame them for keeping things hidden?
Leon sighed deeply, full of concern, but beneath the worry, pride shone on his face.
“My grandson… you’ve got backbone. A few scratches mean nothing. Even if you lost everything, as long as you figure things out and don’t give up, you’ll survive anything. Life and death come to everyone sooner or later. But to live freely, fully, and vividly… that’s a life worth living.”
Leon grew more animated as he spoke, straightening his back and rapping lightly on Nick’s broad shoulders.
Nick suddenly felt a bit off balance. Khloe immediately caught him instinctively.
“Grandpa… please, be gentle.”
Leon paused, and Nick’s face flushed slightly. “Khloe… I’m fine.”
Khloe felt a little embarrassed at being corrected, but her gesture had already shifted the atmosphere from tense to lighthearted.
Arista couldn’t help but laugh.
Grandma Loretta chimed in teasingly, “Every generation has its own luck. Tell me, what merit does Nick have to have such a wonderful wife? Seems like after hardship comes sweetness, huh? Who else would put up with such a quiet, stubborn man all their life?”
“Grandma!” Khloe buried her face, silently pleading for mercy.
George suddenly stepped forward, approaching Nick.
“Nick.”
Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Nick instinctively looked away. After the near-death experience, some of the resentment he had toward his father had eased.
When Khloe’s life had been on the line, he hadn’t thought of his family-only how he could sacrifice himself to save the one most important to him. These past days had trapped him in his own fear and pain… even contemplating giving up on the person he loved most.
In comparison, George, who had offloaded all responsibility onto a young, weak child out of his own suffering, didn’t seem so different. Everyone carries their own sins,
George’s unforgivable deeds were also his sorrow and his scars.
“Dad…” Khloe’s voice was cautious, but Arista gave her a look, and she stayed silent.
George’s breathing steadied. He seemed to summon all his resolve, speaking slowly, each
Chapter42
word weighted with the confession he had buried for so long, “I’m sorry,” <*>
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Nick froze, his gaze trembling as it locked onto his father’s eyes. His brow furrowed, and his whole body stiffened, as if frozen in place,
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“I’ve always known, deep down, that I’ve wrong you. But some things, once done, can’t be undone. I was too afraid to face them… so I buried my guilt, demanding more from you, criticizing you, trying to make myself a father worth something, seeking comfort through your obedience. But now… I regret it.”
George’s voice was low and steady. He reached ou, attempting to place a hand on Nick’s shoulder,
Nick flinched instinctively, stepping away,
George’s hand hovered in midair, his expression onely and heavy with remorse,
Khloe’s heart clenched as she looked anxiously at Nick.
Nick nodded once, interrupting him. “None of that matters anymore. The past is the past. Stop talking about it.”
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