Chapter 162
"I'm greedy, so what? Yes, I am greedy!"
Despite being nearly sixty, Gaia still acted like a petulant teenager around Roger.
Roger surrendered, "Fine, you win—you're greedy and powerful. I'm not arguing with you."
Gaia snorted coldly, "You wouldn't dare."
Adeline watched their bickering with an amused smile.
This was what family meant.
The freedom to tease each other mercilessly, knowing that no matter what was said, the other person wouldn't take offense.
Roger had learned about Adeline's hospitalization from Zephyr and had come specifically to play chess with her.
"Adeline, do you play chess?" He asked.
Adeline nodded slightly. "I know a bit of Go."
Roger's eyes lit up. "That's perfect! Join me for a game."
Adeline graciously agreed.
They began to play, taking turns placing their stones without much deliberation. Gaia watched from the sidelines.
Time trickled by.
Finally, Adeline set down her last stone. "I've lost."
Roger smiled warmly. "What does losing matter? We can always start again."
As Adeline gathered up her white stones, she reflected that life wasn't like a board game.
When you lost in life, there were no second chances.
Roger spoke casually, "Life is just a series of wins and losses. No one loses forever, and no one wins forever. But as long as you're alive, one truth applies."
Adeline looked up at him.
"Being alive means having the chance to start over. Once you're nothing but a headstone, all opportunities vanish."
Gaia glared at him. "We're having a nice game of chess. Why bring up such morbid thoughts?"
"I'm just sharing what came to mind."
Adeline fell into deep contemplation after hearing his words.
She understood these principles in theory, but applying them was another matter entirely.
Yet Roger's statement hit her like a revelation.
In the face of disaster, fear and avoidance were useless. Survival was the only truth that mattered.
Seeing her lost in thought, Roger and Gaia exchanged glances before quietly slipping out of the room.
Outside the hospital room, Gaia sighed. "I wonder if Adeline will take it to heart."
Roger stood with his hands behind his back. "I believe she will."
Gaia looked at him curiously. "You have that much faith in her?"
"Don't you?"
Gaia smiled and nodded. "You're right."
The two elderly walked toward the end of the hallway.
Meanwhile, looking at the board in front of her, Adeline suddenly thought of Lily.
She had actually learned Go from Lily.
More precisely, she'd learned to play so she could keep Lily company.
But it had been so long since she'd seen Lily.
She wondered how Lily was doing.
Adeline took out her phone. The number she knew by heart had never been forgotten.
Her fingers dialed it naturally.
But just before the call connected, she abruptly hung up.
Enough.
There was no point in reappearing in the life of someone who had already disappeared from hers.
Not even for a moment.
Roger and Gaia visited for several consecutive days, filling the hospital room with warmth and conversation.
Until the fifth day, when the siblings didn't show up.
Gaia called Adeline, "Adeline, our children have come home today, so Roger and I won't be visiting."
"That's fine. Family comes first."
Gaia hesitated. "I was thinking of having Zephyr bring you to our house so you could join the festivities. Would that be okay?"
"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm feeling a bit tired. I'd like to rest."
"Alright then, you take care."
After hanging up, Gaia turned to Roger. Without a word, he already knew the answer.
"I knew Adeline wouldn't agree."
"She's so stubborn."
Despite appearing gentle and fragile, Adeline had an unshakeable determination in her core.
"Grandma, who are you talking about?"
Gaia's granddaughter, Jada Turner, approached. Gaia shook her head. "Nothing, just a relative. Now that you're back, your grandfather and I are so happy. Are you staying?"
"I'm not leaving. I'll stay with you both from now on."
Jada leaned against Gaia affectionately.
Roger said, "We've been asking you to come back for ages, but you always refused and stayed abroad. Why the sudden return?"
"I missed you both, that's all."
Jada wouldn't reveal the truth—she had returned for someone specific.
Zephyr walked in from outside, rubbing his hands and exhaling visibly. "It's snowing—the first snow of the year."
Jada smiled at him warmly.
"Zephyr."
Zephyr nodded. "You've only visited once in all these years. Your grandfather has missed you terribly."
Jada replied obediently, "I know I was wrong. I won't leave again after this visit. Are you happy about that?"
Zephyr sat down on the sofa and took a sip of water. "You shouldn't be asking me. You should ask your grandfather if he's happy."
Jada's smile dimmed.
It was always like this. He never took her seriously.
A caregiver pushed open the hospital room door carrying a thermos of hot water.
She saw Adeline sitting by the window.
The caregiver sighed inwardly—such a beautiful young woman, confined to a wheelchair.
"It's getting cold outside today. I brought you some hot water."
"Thank you."
With the weather turning cold, Adeline wore more layers and rarely drank much water, since drinking meant needing help to use the bathroom.
The caregiver prepared a cup of hot cocoa and placed it in her hands.
"Even if you don't drink it, it can warm your hands."
Adeline gazed out the window as the season's first snow gradually fell, painting everything white.
The weather was growing colder.
Each breath created visible puffs in the air.
"Why didn't your family come to visit today?" The caregiver asked.
"They're not my family."
The caregiver looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I misunderstood. I saw them visiting every day and assumed they were relatives."
"They may not be family, but they've been very kind to me."
Adeline remained grateful.
The caregiver felt sympathy for her gracious attitude. "I need to go home to have dinner with my family soon. Will you be alright alone?"
"It's fine. Go be with your family."
"But..."
Adeline smiled reassuringly. "I should be alone anyway. I'm the one who's sick, so naturally I stay in the hospital. It's nice to have some quiet time to think."
"Keep your phone close by. If anything happens, call me. I'll come back after dinner."
The caregiver, still concerned, placed Adeline's phone in the pocket of her wheelchair.
Adeline watched her leave.
She turned back to the window. The first snow was truly beautiful.
She could sit and watch it for hours, until the hot cocoa in her hand turned completely cold.
The Turner family.
After dinner, everyone gathered around the fireplace chatting. Zephyr seemed distracted, noticing the housekeeper making dessert in the kitchen.
He wandered over.
"What are you making?"
"Chocolate cake, nice and sweet."
"Pack some for me to take away."
Zephyr left the kitchen with the packaged chocolate cake. Seeing everyone engaged in conversation, he slipped out quietly.
Jada had been watching him closely and frowned slightly at his departure.
Where was Zephyr going?
The hospital.
Zephyr rushed into the hospital room with the chocolate cake, snowflakes still clinging to his hair that quickly melted in the warmth. "I brought you something delicious. Look what I have!"
"Chocolate cake?"
"I figured you hadn't had dinner yet." Zephyr placed the cake in front of her. "Try it. The housekeeper says it's an old-fashioned recipe that anyone who grew up with grandparents would recognize."
Adeline took a bite.
A familiar taste.
Exactly like Cara used to make.
Zephyr noticed the glimmer of tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
Adeline shook her head slightly, taking small bites of the cake.
"It's delicious."
Zephyr sensed she was remembering something but didn't press further. "If you like it, eat more. I brought it from home for you. If you enjoy it, I'll bring more tomorrow."
"Why are you so kind to me?" This question had puzzled her for a long time.
Zephyr's eyes crinkled with his smile. "Probably because I saved you. Your life is partly mine now, so of course I need to take care of you—at least until you can take care of yourself."