SWNOVELS Chapter 1507
Peterson's wedding was over, Eleanor packed up with the two kids and after crashing at the Sharps' for a few days, they headed back to their homeland.
Life resumed its usual pace. The only hitch was the silent tension between father and son, but otherwise, things were running pretty smoothly.
George, Pearce Hooper, and Evelyn Ziegler would occasionally drop in to visit Nina. Fate had intertwined their lives because of her, and they'd often bump into each other. Eventually, they just teamed up, making it a ritual to check in on her together.
Pearce was still the same old dude, gaming, collecting gold, living that laid-back slacker life. But at the same time, he ran Ethan and Emilia's company like a tight ship.
To avoid hopping between countries, Pearce merged the two family businesses and set up shop right where Emilia and Ethan's love story began. He rechristened it E&E Architecture Inc., the company's brochure a testament to a top-tier designers' romance.
Thanks to his marketing, everyone knew their story. Some felt bad for Emilia, others mourned Ethan's loss. There was a lot of back and forth, but no one could really judge the timing of their love - one arrived too early, the other too late.
As for George, he was getting on in years and had hung up his scalpel. After passing on his wisdom to his students, he embraced the good life - fishing, sipping coffee, and soaking up nature's splendor. His one constant was the annual pilgrimage with Pearce and Evelyn to see Nina. George's life was uncomplicated, free from the pursuit of a partner.
The trio had its share of heartache, especially Evelyn. She didn't live to see Nina grow up; cancer took her down. Chemo was hell, and she chose euthanasia.
Before she passed, she left the Hooper and Ziegler fortunes to Nina. At twelve, Nina became the third richest girl in A Country, set for life.
On Evelyn's final day, Eleanor brought Nina to say goodbye. The once haughty and imperious Evelyn was now a shadow of her former self, her hair gone, her face marked, and her body wasted away. Knowing Nina was coming, she put on makeup, trying to mask the exhaustion in her eyes.
Even so, when she saw Nina, she managed a gentle smile. "Nina..."
Her trembling hand reached out, gripping Nina's arm. "Granny made many mistakes in her youth, hurt your mother, harmed your father. I'm sorry to them, and to you..."
Nina had let go of her disdain for Evelyn over the years. Now, seeing her close to death, she felt a pang of sadness. "I can't forgive you on behalf of my parents, but for myself, I forgive you." Evelyn's eyes welled up. "Serenina, could you call me Granny, just once?"
Nina had never called her Granny. Evelyn had never expected it, but facing the end, she longed to hear it.
Nina tried, but the word "Granny" wouldn't come out.
Evelyn didn't push. She touched Nina's hand softly. "If you can't, it's okay. Don't trouble yourself..."
She then turned to Eleanor. "Thank you for raising her so well."
Evelyn was at peace knowing Ethan's child had turned out so kind. She was ready to let go.
After sharing her final words, Evelyn asked Eleanor and Nina to step out. The doctor came in and shortly after, they were called back.
Nina thought it was a treatment, but the doctor had administered the euthanasia drugs. By the time they returned, Evelyn had passed. Nina ran to the bedside, grabbed Evelyn's hand, and sobbed out, "Granny!"
Perhaps it was Eleanor's imagination, but as Nina cried out, a serene smile seemed to grace Evelyn's lips, as if she was finally at peace.
They say hearing is the last sense to go. Maybe Evelyn heard Nina call her Granny, and that was enough.
At Evelyn's funeral, it was Nina who held the urn. She was laid to rest in the Ziegler family plot, away from Ethan and Emilia, by her own wish - she didn't want to disturb them in death as she had in life.