Chapter 196 Grandpa Woke Up
Luca held her tight, his chin resting on top of her head, his breathing still quick.
Olivia could clearly smell the cedar scent on him, better than any perfume.
She couldn't help snuggling closer into his arms.
"From now on, I'll stay with you every day, okay?" Luca's voice was muffled, with a smile in it.
Olivia nodded, her cheek rubbing against his shirt, her voice tiny: "Okay."
To be honest, even without her memories back, she was willing to live like this with him.
Luca reached up and ruffled her hair, his fingertips brushing her cheek gently, so soft it didn't seem real. "Once your memory returns, I'll take you to all the places we used to go. We'll make up for every bit of lost time."
Olivia felt a warmth in her chest. She looked up at him, her eyes stinging a little.
She knew he must have let her down a lot before, or he wouldn't be so careful now.
But she remembered nothing, so no anger—just that he seemed solid and dependable.
"I'm not in a rush," Olivia said softly, tugging his shirt corner. "We can take it slow."
Luca looked at her, his eyes so full of love it almost spilled out. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Okay, whatever you say. I won't push you or rush you."
Just then, Luca's phone in his pocket started buzzing like crazy, the sound sharp and annoying.
Luca's brows furrowed right away. When he saw the caller ID, he answered, "What happened?"
He didn't say what the other side said, but his body went stiff, and joy flashed in his eyes.
He hung up, stood there stunned for a moment, then slowly turned to Olivia, his voice shaking. "Grandpa... Linus is awake."
Olivia froze too, her mind blank. It took her a while to process it.
Linus? The grandpa Luca told her about, the one in a coma at the nursing home?
She steadied her face fast, acted excited, and her eyes went red. "Really? Grandpa's awake?"
Luca pulled her into a tight hug, his voice bursting with joy and a hint of choke. "Yes, the doctor said he's fully aware and can talk."
Olivia felt his hands shaking. She could tell he was truly happy and cared deeply about grandpa.
"Let's go now," Olivia said, pulling his hand and acting eager. "I want to see grandpa."
Inside, she was panicking. She had no idea what he looked like or what to say to him.
What if he asked about the past and she couldn't answer?
Luca seemed to sense her panic. He squeezed her hand and patted it. "Don't worry, I'm here. Grandpa always spoiled you. He'll just be happy to see you, no pressure. If he asks something you don't remember, I'll handle it."
That calmed her a bit. She nodded firmly.
Good thing he was there, or she wouldn't know what to do.
Luca didn't waste time. He grabbed his jacket, took her hand, and headed out, walking faster than usual.
In the car, he drove and reminded her. "Grandpa just woke up, still weak. Speak softly, don't upset him. If he talks about the past, just agree. If stuck, smile—I'll jump in. Don't act distant or fake it. Just be natural, like before."
Olivia memorized it all, nodding nonstop, but her palms stayed clenched.
She was scared of messing up, disappointing grandpa, or putting Luca in a tough spot.
The car sped on, scenery blurring past the window, but Olivia's heart stayed tense.
Luca glanced at her now and then. Seeing her face pale, he squeezed her hand. "Don't stress, I'm here."
Olivia forced a smile and nodded, but the panic didn't fade.
She kept repeating to herself: Stay calm later, don't slip up, no mistakes.
The nursing home was close. A caregiver waited at the door and came right up when they got out.
"Mr. Vettel, Ms. Ross, the old man's been waiting. He's in good spirits," the caregiver said politely.
Luca nodded, held Olivia's hand, and hurried to the room, steps quick.
The hallway was quiet, just their footsteps and faint caregiver talk in the distance.
Olivia's heart pounded harder, sweat soaking Luca's hand, her breathing careful.
The closer they got, the more nervous she felt. Her mind went blank—she could barely remember Luca's tips.
Luca sensed it, stopped, turned to her with a serious look, and wiped the sweat from her palm.
"Don't panic. Think of it as seeing a family elder who loves you. I'm here—no embarrassment." His eyes were steady, his tone sure, easing her nerves step by step.
Olivia took a deep breath and nodded hard. "Got it. I'll try my best."
Luca smiled, ruffled her hair, then took her hand and gently pushed open the door.
The room was big and bright, sunlight streaming through the windows onto the chair by the bed, making it feel warm.
On the bed, a gray-haired old man leaned against pillows. His face was pale, but his eyes were clear.
That must be grandpa, Olivia thought, trying to picture what Luca described.
The old man's eyes lit up when he saw them. He smiled, voice a bit hoarse. "Luca, Olivia, you're here."
Olivia's heart tightened. She followed Luca up, acted familiar, and said softly, "Grandpa."
Her voice was light, with just the right softness, trying to sound natural.
The old man reached out, motioning her closer, eyes full of affection. "Come here, let me see you."
Olivia glanced at Luca, got his nod of encouragement, then went over and gently took the old man's hand.
His hand was cold and shaky. He was clearly still weak.
"You're thinner," he said, looking at her with heartache. "These years, you must have gone through a lot."
Olivia's heart skipped. She didn't know what to say, so she acted a bit hurt and shook her head lightly.
"Not at all, Grandpa. I've been okay," Olivia forced a smile. "As long as you're fine, I'm fine."
Deep down, she had no clue if that was right. She was scared of saying the wrong thing and upsetting him.