Chapter 1657

Jamie froze for a moment, realizing it wasn’t a reprimand or her needing to apologize for something she had messed up. “Well, why didn’t he just say so earlier?” she silently remarked.
She instantly relaxed and pulled out her phone, scrolling briefly before landing on a suggestion. “How about this place?”
Ben nodded. “That works. Also, pick Charlie up from preschool on the way. He doesn’t need to stay the whole day. We’ll take him with us after lunch to visit the family home.”
Jamie didn’t ask why they would be heading there, but the look on Ben’s face said enough. She had a hunch. Very few people could make Ben wear that expression, and the only one who came to mind was his father. This visit must have something to do with him.
*
After lunch, they headed to the Lucas family estate.
Although Charlie had visited before, this was his first time going with Jamie, and he was bursting with excitement. He fidgeted nonstop in the car, leaning this way and that.
Jamie finally reached her limit, pulling him gently into place. “Sit still, sweetheart. Stop squirming.”
Charlie immediately obeyed, blinking up at her. “Mommy, are we going to see Grandma this time?”
Now that he knew Ben’s true identity, Charlie also understood that the kind lady he had met before was actually his grandmother.
Jamie ruffled his hair, noticing it had grown longer. “Yes, we are. And after we see Grandma, how about we take you to get a haircut?”
Charlie didn’t mind the idea of a haircut. His thoughts were consumed with excitement about seeing his grandmother.
*
The car pulled up to the estate, but the atmosphere was far from what they had expected. Instead of a warm welcome, a heavy tension filled the air.
As they entered, they found Mrs. Lucas wiping tears from her eyes. Jamie instinctively lowered her voice. “Where’s Mr. Lucas?” she asked cautiously, a sinking feeling creeping in. Mrs. Lucas, usually composed and strong-willed, rarely let her emotions show. For her to be crying like this, it could only mean…
Looking at them, Mrs. Lucas tried to keep her composure, though here worry was unmistakable. “Thank goodness you’re back. Ben, your father collapsed this morning and hasn’t woken up since.”
*
Ben’s pupils dilated, his fists clenched and then relaxed, but the redness in his eyes betrayed his emotions.
Jamie gently suggested, “You should go see him.” She glanced at Mrs. Lucas for permission, which was granted with a nod. Together, they headed upstairs, bringing Charlie along.
When they entered the bedroom, Charlie noticed the elderly man lying silently on the bed. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, he stayed unusually quiet.
The room was deathly still until Mr. Lucas on the bed suddenly coughed, his eyes fluttering open.
The first thing Mr. Lucas saw was Ben. In his semi-lucid state, he seemed to mistake him for his younger self. “How did you do on the exam this time? If you did well, Dad will grant you a wish…”
A smile crept across Mr. Lucas’s face as he spoke.
Ben stood there, his head slightly lowered, hiding his expression. But Jamie could see the faint quiver of his eyelashes, betraying the emotions he was holding back.
It was clear that words like these had only been spoken to him as a child. After years of conflict and arguments, his father had likely never said anything like this again.
Ben didn’t pull away when Mr. Lucas’s frail, trembling hand reached out to touch his face. He let the aged hand linger there, weathered and weak, as if trying to hold on to something lost.
After a long moment, Mr. Lucas
sighed and let his hand drop. “If only
you would listen more…” he
murmured, then paused before adding, “But if you did, you wouldn’t bemy son, would you?”
Ben’s hands clenched into fists at the first part of the sentence, but when he heard the second, his grip slowly loosened.
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