Chapter 378: I can die without regrets!!
The first rays of morning sunlight slowly filtered through the hospital windows.
The corridors were still peaceful.
Most visitors had not yet arrived, leaving only nurses and doctors quietly moving between rooms as another day began.
Inside the retiring room, there was a gentle knock on the door.
Knock.
Knock.
Miles was already awake.
He had barely slept throughout the night.
Every hour he had checked the time, hoping someone would come with good news.
The moment he heard the knock, he stood up almost immediately.
He walked to the door and opened it.
Nurse Maya stood outside with a bright smile on her face.
"Boss."
"He is awake."
For a brief second...
Miles simply stood there.
His heart skipped a beat.
Then he quickly composed himself.
He straightened the slightly wrinkled shirt he had slept in, picked up the jacket resting on the chair beside him and slipped it over his shoulders.
"Let’s go."
Maya smiled and quietly led the way.
The walk toward Timothy’s room suddenly felt much longer than it really was.
With every step...
Miles could feel his heartbeat becoming louder.
Faster.
After seventeen years...
This moment had finally arrived.
They stopped outside the room.
Maya gently opened the door.
Miles slowly stepped inside.
Timothy was awake.
The hospital bed had been slightly raised, allowing him to sit comfortably.
The old man looked weaker than before.
His hair had turned almost completely white.
His face carried the marks of age.
Yet his eyes...
Those familiar eyes were finally open again.
They met Miles’.
Neither of them spoke.
The room became completely silent.
Grandfather and grandson simply looked at each other.
Seventeen years.
Memories.
Regrets,
Words.
None of them could be spoken first.
Miles slowly walked toward the bedside.
He quietly pulled the chair closer and sat beside him.
Only then did Timothy finally break the silence.
"M... Miles..."
The familiar voice reached Miles’ ears.
His eyes immediately became moist.
A smile appeared through the tears.
"You..."
"You remembered."
Timothy gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Very slowly, his trembling hand began moving toward Miles.
Without hesitation, Miles reached forward with both hands and gently supported it.
His grip was careful, almost afraid the moment would disappear if he held on too tightly.
"Grandpa..."
His voice trembled.
"I’m happy."
"I’m really..."
"So happy."
Timothy smiled weakly.
"You’ve grown up."
His eyes carefully observed Miles’ face.
"Strong."
"Much stronger than I imagined."
A gentle pride appeared in his expression.
"I’m proud of you..."
"My grandson."
He slowly looked toward the ceiling for a moment before speaking again.
"So..."
"It really has been seventeen years."
A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
"There are still..."
"So many things I never finished."
Miles gently shook his head.
"I took care of them."
Timothy looked back at him.
"I cleared Dad’s name."
"I proved his innocence."
"The people who destroyed our family..."
"The people who hurt Dad."
"The ones who hurt Grandma."
"The ones who hurt you..."
"They’re all gone."
"They’re already paying for what they did."
Timothy’s eyes slowly filled with tears.
Miles continued softly.
"I made sure..."
"Every single person who caused our family pain..."
"Regretted it."
The old man’s lips trembled.
For several moments...
He could not speak.
Finally, tears rolled down his cheeks.
"I’m..."
"So glad."
His voice almost broke.
"Thank you."
A comfortable silence settled between them once again.
Neither of them felt the need to rush.
After several moments...
Timothy looked directly into Miles’ eyes.
"What about you?"
Miles blinked.
"Me?"
Timothy nodded slowly.
"The people..."
"Who hurt you."
"Because of me..."
"You had to face everything alone."
"You lost your childhood."
"You carried burdens no child should ever carry."
His voice became filled with guilt.
"I’m sorry."
Miles quietly lowered his head.
For a long while...
He simply smiled.
Then he finally answered.
"Maybe..."
"It hurt."
"A lot."
He laughed softly.
"There were times I hated everything."
"There were nights I wanted to give up."
"But..."
He looked back at Timothy.
"Every scar."
"Every wound."
"Every painful memory."
"It was all worth it."
Timothy quietly listened.
Miles’ smile became warmer.
"Because in the end..."
"I found the person who kept calling me every night in my dreams."
"The woman who cried for me..."
"My mother."
"I found her."
"I protected her."
"I finally went home."
He squeezed Timothy’s hand a little tighter.
"So..."
"Thank you."
"For making me strong enough."
Timothy smiled through his tears.
His guilt eased ever so slightly.
Then another question entered his heart.
"How..."
"How is Elena?"
Miles’ eyes brightened.
A genuine smile spread across his face.
"Mom..."
"She’s doing well."
"Very well."
Then...
For the next several minutes...
Miles slowly began telling the story of the last seventeen years.
He spoke about Elena’s lonely struggles after losing Edward.
He spoke about the countless letters she had continued writing, believing one day her son might read them.
He told him about Daniel.
About how Daniel accepted Elena without asking for anything in return.
Miles spoke about the twins.
Their innocent laughter.
Their kindness.
Their love for the family.
He spoke about Elena’s restaurant.
About how every customer left smiling because of the warmth she poured into every meal.
He described the reunion.
How he had finally stood before his mother again.
How she had recognized him.
How she had cried while holding him in her arms after believing for seventeen years that he was gone forever.
Timothy listened without interrupting.
Every sentence changed his expression.
Sometimes he smiled.
Sometimes he closed his eyes.
Sometimes tears quietly rolled down his cheeks.
But with every story...
The heaviness inside his heart became lighter.
When Miles finally finished...
Timothy slowly looked out the window.
A peaceful smile rested on his face.
"She was only a high school girl..."
"When she entered our family."
He chuckled softly.
"She was carrying you."
"Her own family abandoned her."
"So..."
"I brought her home."
He looked toward Miles again.
"She became my daughter."
"I wanted my children..."
"To feel safe."
"So they could welcome you into this world without fear."
His smile grew warmer.
"The day you were born..."
"Was the happiest day of my life."
His eyes slowly became moist again.
"I’m sorry."
"So very sorry."
"She had to lose Edward."
"Then she lost you."
"I can’t even imagine..."
"What she carried inside her heart all these years."
He took a slow breath.
"But now..."
"I’m relieved."
"She finally found another family."
"People who truly love her."
"Someone to protect her."
"And someone..."
He looked at Miles proudly.
"Who protects everyone else."
Just then...
A trembling voice came from the doorway.
"Fa..."
"Father..."
Both Miles and Timothy slowly turned.
Standing quietly at the entrance...
With tears already streaming down her face...
Was Elena.
Timothy slowly turned his head toward the doorway.
His tired eyes widened slightly.
"Elena..."
The familiar name escaped his lips almost like a whisper.
Elena could no longer hold back her tears.
She hurried toward the bedside and gently held his hand with both of hers.
"Father..."
Her voice trembled.
"You are finally awake."
She smiled through the tears.
"I thought..."
"I thought I would never get to speak to you again."
Timothy looked at her quietly.
The young girl he remembered had disappeared long ago.
The woman standing before him had lived through years of hardship.
Yet her smile was still just as warm.
He slowly raised his trembling hand and gently touched her cheek.
"I’m sorry, child."
"Because of me..."
"You had to endure so much."
Elena immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Please don’t say that, Father."
Her eyes became moist again.
"If you hadn’t been there..."
"I don’t know what I would’ve done that year."
She lowered her head.
"There was a time..."
"I wanted to end everything."
The room fell silent.
Miles quietly looked at his mother.
Elena continued softly.
"I tried to take my own life."
"It was you who stopped me."
"You saved me."
"You saved my son."
She smiled sadly.
"If it weren’t for you..."
"And Edward..."
"I truly don’t know where life would’ve taken me."
She squeezed Timothy’s hand.
"You cannot blame yourself."
"I know..."
"Edward would’ve wanted exactly the same."
Timothy closed his eyes for a moment.
The burden he had carried inside his heart finally became lighter.
A gentle smile appeared.
"Miles told me..."
"About the twins."
He chuckled softly.
"Cute little grandchildren."
"I want to meet them."
He looked toward Miles.
"I want to become the cool grandpa again."
Miles laughed.
"I’m sure they’ll compete to sit beside you."
Elena nodded happily.
"They’ll love you, Father."
"You’ll meet everyone."
She smiled warmly.
"In just three days."
Timothy looked confused.
"Three days?"
Miles grinned.
"Grandpa Gordon is also waiting to meet you."
Timothy blinked in surprise.
"You met Gordon?"
Miles nodded.
"That’s a long story."
"When the Winslow family brought you back to us..."
"And Grandpa Gordon found out..."
"He rushed over immediately."
Timothy laughed weakly.
"My little brother..."
His eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Don’t tell him."
"I want to surprise him."
Miles smiled.
"Of course."
"I won’t say a word."
Timothy looked between the two of them.
"So..."
"What happens after three days?"
Miles exchanged a smile with Elena.
Elena answered first.
"It’s your grandson’s wedding."
Timothy stared at Miles for several seconds.
Then he suddenly laughed.
"I was still thinking of you as the little boy I last saw."
He shook his head with amusement.
"I never imagined..."
"I’d have to treat you as an adult."
Miles pretended to look offended.
"Grandpa."
"Aren’t you happy?"
"I even asked for your blessings while you were asleep."
Timothy smiled warmly.
"I’m very happy."
He looked proudly at his grandson.
"You’re carrying our family’s rebellious blood."
"I rebelled for your grandmother."
"Your father rebelled for your mother."
"And now..."
"You chose the woman your heart wanted."
He nodded with satisfaction.
"Whoever you chose..."
"I would never question your decision."
Elena smiled brightly.
"Then you should meet her."
Miles looked toward the doorway.
"She’s here?"
Elena nodded.
"Chloe."
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the entrance.
Chloe had been quietly waiting outside, not wanting to interrupt the reunion.
After hearing Elena call her, she slowly stepped inside.
She walked respectfully toward Timothy.
Her hands were gently folded in front of her.
Timothy carefully observed her.
His eyes softened almost immediately.
"So..."
"This is my granddaughter in law."
Chloe smiled politely.
"I’m Chloe, Grandpa."
"It’s nice to finally talk to you."
Timothy’s face lit up.
"Look at that."
"She already calls me Grandpa."
He laughed softly.
"I feel so happy."
He slowly raised his hand.
"My blessings are with both of you."
"I wish you a lifetime filled with happiness."
Chloe bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you, Grandpa."
Timothy looked at the young couple standing together.
They fit together naturally.
One calm.
One gentle.
He smiled with satisfaction.
"You two look wonderful together."
He let out a long breath.
"I thought..."
"I would leave this world very soon."
"But now..."
He grinned.
"I think I’ll stay long enough to see my great grandchild."
Chloe’s cheeks instantly turned bright red.
Miles rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Grandpa..."
"Recover first."
"You still have to attend our wedding."
Timothy laughed.
He turned toward Elena.
"Dear..."
"I’ve missed your cooking."
Elena smiled warmly.
"The moment the doctors allow it..."
"I’ll cook every one of your favorite dishes."
Timothy closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"I’ve missed home."
Then he quietly looked toward Miles again.
"I think..."
"I could leave this world without regrets now."
Miles immediately shook his head.
"No."
"You still have work left."
Miles smiled mischievously.
"Don’t you want to meet your great grandchild?"
The old man’s laughter echoed throughout the room.
"Looks like I’ll have to stay alive a little longer."
At that moment...
There was another gentle knock on the door.
Knock.
Knock.
The door opened.
Dr. Reyes stepped inside carrying a tablet.
Elena smiled.
"Doctor Reyes."
Reyes nodded politely.
"Greetings, Mrs. Keller."
He looked toward Timothy.
"I’m very happy to see Senior Sterling doing so well."
Elena stood up.
"We’ll give you some space."
She gently touched Timothy’s shoulder before walking toward the door.
Chloe smiled at Timothy once again before quietly following Elena outside.
Now only Miles, Timothy, Dr. Reyes and Nurse Maya remained inside the room.
Miles looked toward Reyes.
"Doc?"
Reyes reviewed the latest reports before smiling.
"Boss."
"The good news is..."
"He’s doing remarkably well."
He looked toward Timothy.
"He’ll experience some brain fog for a while."
"That’s perfectly normal after such a long coma."
"The right nutrition..."
"Proper sleep..."
"And regular rehabilitation."
"Those three things will help him recover steadily."
He continued.
"For now..."
"He’ll have some difficulty walking."
"And his muscles are still weak."
"So we’ll begin rehabilitation soon."
He glanced toward Maya.
"Nurse Maya will continue overseeing his daily care."
Maya smiled confidently.
"I’ll take good care of him."
Miles finally asked the question that had been waiting in his heart.
"When can I take him home?"
Reyes thought for a moment.
"Normally..."
"I’d prefer to keep him here for several weeks."
"For observation."
"And medication adjustments."
He smiled.
"But..."
"I also know your wedding is only a few days away."
"So..."
"If you’re comfortable with it..."
"I can arrange full medical support at Pearl Villa."
"A small team of nurses."
"Necessary equipment."
"Everything he’ll need."
Miles answered without hesitation.
"That’s not a problem at all."
"We have more than enough space."
He smiled.
"If you need to build a mini hospital inside Pearl Villa..."
"I won’t complain."
Reyes laughed.
"I expected that answer."
He closed the medical file.
"Then I’ll send a team today."
"We’ll prepare everything before tomorrow."
He looked toward Timothy one last time before smiling.
"If his condition remains this stable..."
"You can bring him home tomorrow."
The words filled the room with quiet happiness.
Home was finally waiting for Timothy Sterling once again.