Chapter 338

"Dad, stop talking. You're gonna be fine. You have to get better."

Thomas, the fifth son, shook his head, refusing to believe what he was seeing.

Only the eldest, Atticus, stepped forward and agreed to Daniel's final wish.

"Dad, don't worry. Isabella's the princess of the Wilson family. As long as we're around, anyone who messes with her is messing with us."

"That's all I needed to hear." With that, Daniel forced a bitter smile.

Isabella's face was already streaked with tears.

Daniel's words were clearly his final instructions, and she didn't know what to do.

Daniel's heart ached for her, but he no longer had the strength to lift his hand. He could only try to comfort her.

"Isabella, don't be scared. Even if I leave, I'll be watching over you from above."

"You've been with me since you were seven. All these years, I've wanted to give you the best of everything, but I know what you really long for is your parents' company."

Isabella shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't want anyone else. I just want you, Grandpa. Please don't leave me."

"That's not something I can decide." Daniel forced a smile. "I've come to terms with life and death. When the time comes, we all have to go. There's no need to be sad."

"But I don't want you to live a hard life because of this. That's why I need to see you happy with my own eyes. Isabella, promise me one thing."

Isabella nodded. "Okay, Grandpa. I'll promise you anything."

Daniel's eyes suddenly brightened, a sign of his final burst of energy.

Atticus and the others' faces changed.

Holden, frightened, wanted to get a doctor, but Atticus stopped him, shaking his head.

He had already spoken privately with the doctor, who said that Daniel had shown signs of exhaustion in the operating room and was holding on by sheer willpower.

Daniel was holding on just to see Isabella.

They couldn't let Daniel suffer any longer.

"I don't know if I'm right about you and Michael, but I don't want you to compromise yourself. Even if you have his child, it doesn't mean you can't find your own happiness. Understand?"

Daniel spoke slowly but firmly.

It was as if he had always known but had kept it to himself.

Isabella was suddenly panicked.

Her mind went blank.

Her voice trembled. "Grandpa, you knew?"

She thought she and Michael had been perfect in their act, that Daniel couldn't possibly know what was going on between them.

But the truth was, every time they pretended, it was glaringly obvious to Daniel.

Their act had never fooled him.

"Isabella, promise Grandpa, don't let the child become your shackle. You are free, always."

Daniel had said too much, and his breathing became labored, leading to a severe coughing fit.

"Dad! Are you okay?"

The five Wilson sons rushed to help Daniel, their faces pale with fear despite their usual composure.

Daniel shook his head slightly, taking a breath. "You all are old enough to know I could leave at any time. Don't be sad for me. Just keep doing what you love. I don't ask for anything else."

The light in Daniel's eyes began to fade. He sensed his time was running out.

He gripped Isabella's hand tightly and asked, "Isabella, you haven't promised me yet."

Isabella didn't feel the pain, only the weight of Daniel's hand on her heart.

She couldn't think about the true meaning of Daniel's words. She just didn't want him to have any regrets.

"Grandpa, I promise you. I'll do everything you said."

Isabella's tears fell on Daniel's withered hand. She couldn't accept his departure.

If fate could hear her prayers, she would trade anything for Daniel's longevity.

But the reality was reality.

With Daniel's final sigh, "That's good," the nearby machine emitted a piercing beep.

His heart monitor flatlined.

A legendary figure had passed away.

"Dad!"

"Grandpa!"

The five Wilson sons knelt by the bed, tears in their eyes, faces full of sorrow.

Isabella threw herself onto Daniel, crying, "Grandpa, don't go. You said you wouldn't leave me alone. Grandpa, please don't go!"

Daniel was gone. The man who had taken her from the Taylor family, who had spoiled her for over a decade, was gone. What did she have left?

If she hadn't insisted on going to the hospital, Daniel wouldn't have had a sudden relapse during his recovery. He wouldn't have died.

It was her fault. Grandpa died because of her.

She would never forgive herself.

Isabella's cries were heart-wrenching, but they couldn't match the pain of losing her grandpa.

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open, and Michael appeared in a black coat.

"I heard Grandpa was sick..."

Before he could finish, Michael saw Isabella and froze.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

Isabella was supposed to be moved by Bianca. His men had searched all of Evergreen City and found no trace of her.

How could she be here?

"Who let you in? Get out!"

Before Michael could speak, Isabella stood up angrily and ordered him to leave.

Her grandpa had just died, and his fake concern disgusted her.

"Isabella, are you really okay? I thought you were..."

Michael was shocked to see her. He struggled to restrain himself from hugging her.

But to Isabella, it was all a cruel joke.

"Michael, who are you pretending for?"

"Don't you know better than anyone if I'm okay? I thought you came to the warehouse to save me, but you made love to Bianca right in front of me. What, you couldn't get enough without me there?"

Just thinking about their intimate scene made Isabella nauseous.

Michael was so ruthless.

She gave up; she didn't want Michael anymore.

"Isabella, it's not what you think with Bianca."

"Get out!"

Isabella couldn't contain her anger any longer. She pointed to the door.

She needed to vent all her suppressed emotions.

"I don't want to hear your excuses. Leave now. My grandpa is dead. Do you want to disturb him too?"