Chapter 415 415: It's her decision to make...
Davis glanced at the faces of the two elderly in-laws beside him just in tto catch each of them masking their
shock.
For a moment, he found it strangely refreshing to see them still bearing the grudge of the past while the met on
a narrow path.
Totally unfazed about the full tale between the Santiagos and the Andersons, Davis was the first to break the
silence.
"Grandma," he greeted softly, stepping forward with quiet respect to help her out of the elevator.
Once outside, Lady Matilda paused in the hallway. Her gaze lingered on Davis, her eyes misty with the weight of
memories. One hand leaned against her walking stick while the other trembled as she slowly lifted it, her frail
fingers carefully tracing Davis' features.
"You've suffered a lot," she murmured, a bitter smile tugging at her lips every word a testimony to the pains
endured.
Her maternal warmth washed over him like a balm, Davis shook his head lightly. "Not compared to hers," he
answered, concealing the ache that pressed against his heart.
"How have you been?" She asked softly.
"Grandma, I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me," Davis reassured her, his eyes gentle, filled with the kind
of affection he rarely allowed others to see.
"l...l... really have to," Lady Matilda lamented, her voice breaking. "Especially when you are the one bearing the
most pain."
"Let's go in and see her," Davis said quietly, extending his hand to guide her down the corridor toward the ward.
Behind them, Josh stepped closer. His heart pounded with unease. How was he supposed to address Lady
Matilda without stirring her displeasure?
Back when Nora was alive, he had called her 'Mom.' But with the bitter rift between the Anderson and Santiago
families, guilt weighed heavily on him. He felt trapped between shand longing, caught at a crossroads.
As Lady Matilda prepared to walk forward, Josh clenched his fists, then took a hesitant step. Against reason,
against pride, he spoke the word he had long held back.
"Mom," he greeted, his voice calm yet unsteady.
The old lady froze mid step. She had intend to ignore his presence, she wouldn't want another set of
entanglement between the families any more but
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSlowly, she turned, her eyes narrowing as they fell on Josh Anderson...the man who would have been her son-in-
law. A storm of emotions flickered in her gaze: disappointment, anger and hurt.
"Josh, you are here?" she asked, her tone laced with detachment, a cold unfamiliarity that cut deeper than Josh
had expected.
Her words pierced him. Noting her coldness, Josh felt the strength drain from his body.
His shoulders sagged under the weight of regret. He felt tired, empty. He felt hurt. And most of all, he felt guilty
for the mistakes of the past.
It seemed no matter how much tpassed, he would definitely pay the price of his foolishness. Looking back in
time, he had been a coward.
Lady Matilda shifted her gaze from Josh to Davis. "An acquaintance?" she asked flatly.
Davis inclined his head. He dared not deny it. Deep inside, he hoped that somehow, someday, the two families
could mend their rift.
He would never want his wife caught in the crossfire of an old feud, especially not when she woke.
Lady Matilda studied him, then gave a small nod. "Seems you have quite the taste," she smirked faintly.
The words made both Davis and Josh stiffen. Davis frowned slightly, turning the remark over in his mind, unable
to discern her true meaning.
He wanted to ask but he was afraid it might even complicate matters, he let it slide.
"You are welcome," she added curtly, shifting her gaze back to Davis. "Davis, lead the way."
Obediently, Davis guided her down the hallway. When they reached the closed door of the ICU, Lady Matilda's
eyes reddened, and her grip tightened on her stick.
Thanks to Davis' care, she was granted stat Jessica's bedside, while Josh remained outside, waiting in
the ICU waiting room, alone with his thoughts.
An hour later, Lady Matilda emerged from the ward with Davis supporting her gently. Her expression was heavy
with sorrow.
"Davis, what's your plan for her?" Lady Matilda asked quietly.
He explained briefly about the doctors, the treatments, and the diagnoses they had carried out.
Then he added, "Grandma, Mr. Josh wanted to transfer her to Country Z."
At once, Lady Matilda's brow furrowed. Her eyes sharpened like steel as they snapped toward Davis.
"What did you just say?" she demanded.
Davis swallowed hard but repeated himself. He would not conceal such a matter from her.
"Are you transferring her on your own wish, or simply because he asked you to?" Lady Matilda pressed.
"His suggestion," Davis admitted tersely. Though he longed for Jessica's recovery, he could not bear the thought
of her being taken away from him.
The idea alone felt like losing her all over again. Seeing her every morning and night, speaking to her, sitting
with her in the ICU...those moments were what kept him alive, that was the only reason of his living.
He might have ignored the NICU in his own suffering, but not the ICU...not hers.
Lady Matilda studied him carefully, weighing his sincerity. Then she lifted her chin and spoke with quiet authority.
"Davis, Jessica may be an Anderson... but she must wake to claim that name. Until then, she goes nowhere."
Just then, Josh stepped forward, having overheard. His steps faltered, but he forced himself closer.
"Mom, can we sit down and discuss this matter?" he pleaded.
Lady Matilda's gaze cut through him like a blade.
I" : :
Josh, your ties to the Santiago
family were severed long ago by your
own kin. And as farasyecali ob!
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aggiested Why cback now?
Her voice rang through the tense
silence of the hallway with the weight
of years and unhealed wounds. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
"Mom, | know | was wrong," Josh admitted, his voice raw. "But perhaps if we sit down, we can resolve this
calmly."
"Resolve? After how many years?" Her voice rose.
"Do | need to remind you that the Santiago estate never moved an inch from its ground?"
""I know," Josh whispered, trembling. "I know | was wrong. But please... sitting down may help us reconcile."
"Josh Anderson?" Lady Matilda called sharply.
Davis felt a chill. He had an ill sense
this was far from over. His eyes
darted around the oQr(@or Aside’
fromthigards, no one was there
but the matter was too heavy, too
sensitive and raw to be unraveled in
such a place. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
He drew a deep breath. "Grandma, Mr. Anders, you can return hand settle your differences without
disturbing my wife's rest," Davis said firmly.
"Alright, we are going over to the waiting room," Josh muttered quickly.
But Lady Matilda shook her head. "I have nothing to discuss with you. Davis, if | look for my granddaughter and
do not find her, then..."
Leaving her warning hanging in the air, she turned away, walking slowly toward the elevator. The silence she left
behind was louder than any words.
Dumbfounded, both men stood rooted in place.
As Lady Matilda and Donald
disappeared behind the closipg rm
doors, Ravis sighddre rubbed the
c H [1
bhek'of his neck. "Mr. Anders, | am
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sorry, but my wife goes nowhere.
Josh clenched his fists. "But Davis, the window period must be considered."
Davis nodded with newfound resolve. "I spent more than four months in the ICU. In waking up, | married her."
Davis' implication was clear: she would wake up in her own tand it wouldn't change the fact because they
were married.
Just like Grandma said, "It's her decision to make."
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