Chapter 159: Garth is Dead

After finishing washing up, Astrid lay in bed. The space beside her was empty—Silas was working overtime and hadn't come home.

She tossed and turned in bed. After what felt like forever, a vague sense of unease crept over her, and she decided to return to The Prescott Manor.

Garth was sleeping longer and longer. The doctor said that although most of the toxins had been neutralized, some had already invaded his entire body. No medicine could truly clear out these remaining toxins completely.

Garth was old, his metabolism not as good as a young person's. Every extra day the toxins stayed in his body brought him one step closer to death.

When Astrid rushed back, Autumn was pushing a wheelchair, letting Garth get some fresh air in the garden.

"Grandpa." Astrid and Autumn exchanged smiles. She bent down to look at Garth's haggard face.

"You're back." Garth's voice sounded like a bellows—hoarse and dry. Just saying one sentence left him somewhat breathless.

"Astrid, the wind is picking up. Your grandfather can't be exposed to the wind. I'll take him back to his room to rest first." Autumn explained with a smile. The wheelchair rolled away, getting farther and farther from Astrid.

Astrid wanted to spend time with Garth, but couldn't get close.

This time, Autumn really did seem to be taking care of Garth attentively, and Garth didn't seem to reject her care either.

This was a rare father-daughter time for them.

If Autumn hadn't argued with Garth all those years ago, she'd probably be living the life of a wealthy lady now.

Astrid waited in her room, but news of Garth waking never came. Instead, Piper's call came first.

She said there were important documents at Starlight Gems that needed her signature.

Astrid rushed to the company to sign. She had just finished signing and was on her way back to The Prescott Manor when someone from the Prescott family called, saying Garth had passed away.

The moment she heard the somber voice on the phone, Astrid lost focus, and her car veered toward the sidewalk.

Fortunately, no one was passing by at the time, so she didn't cause any damage.

She called Piper to handle the scene and took a cab back to The Prescott Manor herself.

What greeted her was Garth's body, never to move again.

Astrid seemed to have had her soul extracted, living like a walking corpse every day.

On the day of the funeral.

Astrid suddenly realized this was Garth's last day in this world. She wept heavily before the coffin.

No one noticed Dean standing nearby, watching her slender body, a flash of murderous intent rising in his eyes.

After finishing crying, Astrid got up and returned to her original spot. In her ears, she heard distant relatives whispering.

"I don't know why Garth wanted to leave the largest share to her."

"Keep your voice down; she can hear you."

"So what if she hears? I'm not lying. Besides, I'm not the only one here who knows about this."

Astrid gradually came back to her senses.

She hadn't seen Garth one last time. During this period, Autumn had stayed by Garth's side constantly. Astrid had no idea when Garth had divided up his estate.

Hearing this news now, her heart barely rippled.

She only hoped Garth could rest in peace.

Autumn, not far from Astrid, had long been dissatisfied. She had worked tirelessly to care for him, hoping to gain Garth's recognition.

Yet Garth had secretly prepared his will behind everyone's back!

Now, hearing people gossiping privately, Autumn no longer wanted to pretend. She stepped out of line and shouted loudly.

"Dean, Rolf, Arthur, don't you have anything to say?"

"Father's division of assets is completely unfair!"

"Astrid is just his granddaughter. Why does she get the biggest share? She hasn't contributed anything to Prescott Jewelers!"

Hearing this, Astrid's brows knitted together.

She had been overthinking before—Autumn hadn't changed one bit.

If Garth didn't leave her more inheritance, she'd have no capital to squander for the rest of her life. She had never worked, had been pampered all her life, and her brothers had never particularly looked after her. Her fate wouldn't be good.

Dean, as Garth's eldest son, was the oldest and most senior person present. Facing Autumn's outburst, he acted as if he hadn't heard anything and didn't come out to intervene.

Astrid ignored the various gazes directed at her. Having been through so much, she had become composed. Her eyes looked calmly at Autumn, her voice steady.

"Aunt Autumn, if you're dissatisfied, why don't you go ask Grandpa why he made this decision?"

"If you truly cared about Grandpa, you wouldn't let him leave in turmoil, disrupting his funeral and making his departure undignified."

This was a reminder, and also a warning.

As long as Autumn had any sense of what an elder should be, she should back down and wait until after Garth's funeral to discuss this.

"You're actually telling me to die!" Autumn looked at her, anger turning to humiliation.

"You bitch, even if my dad gave you those shares, I won't agree to transfer them to you!"

Publicly mocked, Autumn's face darkened. Furious, she walked toward Astrid and raised her hand to slap her.

"Today, who dares hurt my wife?" Silas's sharp voice came from behind the crowd.

Everyone tactfully made way.

Silas wore a black suit, his whole body radiating a cold aura, commanding respect without anger.

Autumn's hand stopped in mid-air, anger replaced by realization.

"Silas, you're here." Arthur and Catherine smiled and came forward to greet him, then looked at the stunned Autumn, their expressions turning unpleasant.

"Autumn, you can't make a scene at Dad's funeral!"

"Catherine, she's tired. Take her down to rest first."

Catherine quickly agreed, grabbed Autumn's arm, and left.

"Astrid was right just now. Today is Father's funeral. No one can disrupt it."

"Now I announce that the funeral continues."

Arthur kept a straight face. Seeing there was no more gossip, the others turned their attention back to the funeral.

"Silas, Astrid didn't tell us when you'd arrive, so we couldn't arrange for someone to meet you in time. Please don't be angry." When Arthur turned to Silas, his face bore a smile as he made thoughtful arrangements.

Astrid looked at Silas, her eyes calm and still.

He had wanted to come earlier, but she had used the excuse of the crowd being chaotic and had only asked him to appear at the funeral.

Earlier, when Autumn had questioned and insulted her, Arthur hadn't stood up to support Astrid or said a word in defense of the deceased Garth. But now that Silas had arrived, Arthur was so fawning he practically wanted to acknowledge Silas as his father.

His scheming was truly laughable!

It was just a pity that no matter what he did, Silas would never take him seriously.

Silas glanced at her and declined coolly, "Astrid needs someone by her side. I'm not going anywhere."