Chapter 588: His Last Wish
(Author’s POV)
"YOU~ .... you ungrateful brat~ .... it’s all because of you," Diana delivered another powerful smack as she barked with fury.
Everyone in the room was utterly shocked by her reaction. No one spoke a word for a while. Yelena was too stunned to say anything as well. With trembling eyes and shaking hands, clutching both her cheeks, she kept mum.
Jefferey and Liliana both shouted at the same time, "MOM~ .... MOTHER~ ...." The latter immediately moved towards her daughter and pulled her into her embrace.
Garry struggled to sit up in his bed. Oliver helped him as he spoke, his voice full of disbelief, "Diana~ .... why did you say that? This has nothing to do with Yelena. It was an accident."
"It has everything to do with this shameless girl. Wasn’t she supposed to drop you off at the airport? Where was she, huhh? Why did she not go with you?" Diana asked, her voice hysterical.
"Ms. Yates had classes at the time. So, Mr. Yates Senior asked her not to see him off," Oliver answered on Garry’s behalf.
"Shut your mouth~ .... I haven’t asked you. Who are you to butt in?" Diana glared at him. He lowered his head at once, pressing his lips tightly. She then shifted her attention back to Yelena and hissed, pointing a finger at her face, "Were your classes so important that you can’t even look after your own grandfather?"
Yelena was in no condition to answer. The tears she had wiped off began to flow again.
Seeing her like this, Diana got even more pissed. She grabbed Yelena’s wrist roughly and yanked her away from Liliana’s hold. "STOP WITH YOUR CROCODILE TEARS AT ONCE AND ANSWER ME. WHY WERE YOU NOT THERE IN THE CAR? WAS IT BECAUSE OF YOUR CLASSES OR WERE YOU BUSY WAGGING YOUR TAIL AROUND THAT LOW CLASS, TWO-PENNY FRIEND OF YOURS?" Her voice came out frenzied.
"No~ .... Grandma. It is~ ... it is not like that," Yelena shook her head.
"I should have never agreed to let you come here. All your life you have been nothing but trouble. Look what you have done now," Diana spat one poisonous word after another.
"DIANA~ .... that’s enough," Garry’s voice was stern even though he was barely able to speak and was in such a worn down state. He then looked at his eldest, who caught his signal and walked towards his mother, trying to comfort her. He carefully held both her hands in his and whispered, "Mom, I know you are deeply hurt to see Dad like this. We all are~ .... I have already arranged the best medical team; they will be here shortly. I promise nothing will happen to him. He will be fit and fine in no time."
Diana nodded, squeezing his hands back, but his next words made her blood boil again, "You should not blame Yelena for this. This was all an accident."
She snatched her hands away from Jeffery’s grip and yelled, her words spiteful, "Don’t speak on her behalf just because she is your flesh and blood." She then turned and jabbed her index finger in Yelena’s chest repeatedly, "This girl~ .... this worthless girl has been nothing but a burden on our family. Ever since she made friends with those good-for-nothing, lowly Miracles, she has been creating constant trouble. First, she accused my Henry, her own uncle, of false harassment. Then she ran off from the mansion to God knows who in the middle of the night. Ever since then, she has been rebellious- and a nuisance. Now, this accident~ .... who knows, maybe she has something to do with this accident, after all, she wants to take over the family business."
"MOTHER .... I know you are upset, but don’t slander my daughter without any proof. You know very well how much Yelena loves her grandfather. She would never do such a thing; as for the past, she would never lie about such a thing. She didn’t accuse Henry falsely," Liliana fired back. Her eyes landed on Henry, who had been standing far away and quiet, enjoying the show. She then patted Yelena’s head and continued, "I believe in my daughter completely. And you~ .... you are the one who has always been biased." Liliana wasn’t a confrontational person, but she wouldn’t let anyone spout nonsense about her precious daughter.
"YOU~~~~ .... YOU DARE TO~ ...." Diana’s hand trembled; she was ready to launch another set of insults, but Garry’s roaring voice made her stop. "DIANA YATES~~~~. I SAID STOP IT~ ...." His words were followed by a violent series of coughing as he vomited blood. The pristine white sheet was tainted maroon, almost burgundy in colour.
"GARRYYY~~~~~ ...." Diana shouted as she rushed back to be by her husband’s side. Everyone else hurried as well.
Yelena ran out to call for the doctor.
After coughing for a while, Garry heaved and took long breaths to compose himself. By this time, every time he breathed, his insides burned with intense, unbearable pain. Sweat beads formed on his forehead and soaked his back as he looked at his wife and said, "Diana~ .... Honey~ ...." His voice was gentle, barely above a whisper. "Don’t blame anyone for this. This is no one’s fault." He extended his palm as Diana quickly grabbed it.
He continued, his voice hoarse, "I~ .... don’t have much time left~ ...."
"No~ ... don’t say this~ .... Garry, you will be fine," Diana muttered, sobbing.
"Dad~ .... You~ ..." Jefferey tried to speak but was cut off by his father, "No~hh~ .... I know my condition well. So, please listen to me~ ...." He glanced Henry’s way, making sure he was listening.
"I have already arranged my will. As for other things, after I am gone~ .... don’t be so harsh on others and on yourself. Don’t hate anyone. Let bygones be bygones," Garry mumbled. He looked at Diana, who sobbed even more loudly after hearing his words.
He leaned back, his head resting on the railing. "Arrange for a flight back to Damona. I want to have lunch with my whole family at home.... for one last time."
"Garry~ ..." Diana called his name. He just said, "Consider it~ ... my last wish."
To Be Continued . . . . . . .