Chapter 197 Not an Accident
Luca stepped forward at the right moment, holding the old man's other hand, and said respectfully, "Grandpa, you just woke up. Don't get too excited. Rest well. Olivia has had a tough time these years. It's my fault. I kept misunderstanding her and let her suffer."
The old man glared at him and said sternly, "Good that you know. I told you back then that Olivia was a good girl, but you wouldn't listen."
Luca lowered his head and admitted his mistake obediently, "I was foolish. I was blind. From now on, I'll treat her well and never let her suffer even a little."
Olivia stood to the side, watching their exchange. She felt a bit more relaxed inside. At least she didn't have to keep talking.
She quietly observed the old man and saw that his gaze toward her was full of affection. It was clear he had really cared for her before.
"Grandpa, you just woke up. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Olivia remembered Luca's reminder and quickly asked with concern.
She tried to sound natural, with genuine care, so no one would notice anything off.
The old man shook his head and smiled. "I'm fine. Just a bit weak. Seeing you two makes me feel much better."
He paused, his eyes on Olivia with a hint of probing. "Olivia, Grandpa has something to ask you. Don't get mad."
Olivia's heart tightened. She got nervous again, her palms starting to sweat. She nodded quickly. "Grandpa, go ahead. I'm not mad."
She prayed silently in her mind. Please don't ask anything too complicated. Please don't ask about things she couldn't remember.
The old man took a deep breath and said slowly, "I heard you have a child? Is it... Luca's?"
Olivia froze for a second. She hadn't expected him to ask that. She didn't know what to say right away.
She looked at Luca, her eyes pleading for help, hoping he would bail her out.
Luca spoke up right away, confessing openly. "Grandpa, yes. It's our son. His name is Leo. He's five this year."
His tone was serious, his face showing guilt. "Back then, she was pregnant alone and raised Leo all by herself with so much hardship. I let her down. I let the child down."
The old man's eyes lit up at once. His smile grew wider, and he even got a bit excited. "Really? I have a great-grandson?"
He gripped Olivia's hand tightly, his voice full of joy. "Good girl, you suffered so much raising him alone. It must have been hard."
Olivia felt a pang in her heart. Even though she didn't remember the struggles of raising a child, the old man's caring look still made her eyes well up.
"It's not a big deal, Grandpa," she shook her head gently. "Leo is very well-behaved and sensible. He's my greatest pride."
She meant it from the heart. Even without her memories, she knew Leo was her son, the person she cared about most.
"Good, good, good," the old man nodded repeatedly, grinning from ear to ear. "When I'm a bit stronger, bring Leo to see me. I want to take a good look at my great-grandson. I've prepared gifts for him long ago. I won't let him miss out."
Olivia nodded quickly. "Okay, Grandpa. When you're feeling better, I'll bring Leo over. He'll love you for sure."
Luca stood nearby, watching them get along so well. He felt relieved and happy.
At least for now, everything was going smoothly. Olivia hadn't slipped up, and the old man was thrilled.
The old man nodded to the caregiver nearby, his tone firm. "Bring over what I prepared."
The caregiver turned right away, took a thick stack of documents from the cabinet, and handed them to the old man with both hands.
The old man took them and passed them to Olivia with a smile. "These are all for Leo. Just a little something from Grandpa."
Olivia took the documents. They felt heavy in her hands. She flipped through them quickly—properties, shares, and trust agreements.
She was shocked and pushed them back right away. "Grandpa, no. This is too valuable. Leo's still little. He doesn't need these."
She really thought it was too much. She didn't dare accept it, and she couldn't.
The old man's face turned serious. "For my great-grandson, I give what I want. Who cares if he needs it now or not? If you don't take it, it means you don't see me as Grandpa. It means you're still mad at our family."
Olivia panicked. She didn't know what to do and looked to Luca again for help.
Luca stepped up, patted her shoulder gently, and said softly, "Grandpa means well. Just accept it. This is for Leo, and it's security for the child. If you don't, Grandpa will be upset."
Olivia looked at the old man's serious eyes and then at Luca. She knew she couldn't refuse anymore.
She took the documents back, held them carefully against her chest, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Grandpa. I'll thank you on Leo's behalf."
The old man finally smiled happily and patted her hand. "That's right. We're family. No need for polite talk."
Olivia held the documents, feeling very uneasy. Such valuable things made her feel a lot of pressure.
Luca noticed her worry. He quietly held her hand, giving her strength and signaling not to worry.
The three chatted a bit more. Mostly the old man asking about Leo. Olivia answered one by one, following Luca's hints.
They were talking happily when the old man's face suddenly darkened. His tone turned serious.
"Luca, I have something to ask you," the old man said, looking at Luca sharply. "My coma this time—was it really not an accident?"
Luca's face changed instantly. His eyes grew heavy. He nodded. "Grandpa, you're right. It wasn't an accident."
Olivia's heart tightened. She hadn't expected Linus to bring this up suddenly. She gripped Luca's hand instinctively.
She didn't know the details, but she could tell this was serious.
The old man took a deep breath, anger in his voice. "I knew it. My health was always good. How could I suddenly pass out? Before I fainted, that girl Windy kept coming to the nursing home every few days, bringing soup and snacks. I didn't think much then. But now, that soup always tasted strange."
Olivia's heart sank hard. Windy? The woman Luca told her about—the one who stole credit and framed her?
She hadn't expected Windy's involvement in Linus's coma. That woman was too vicious.
Luca's face went completely cold, anger burning in his eyes. "Grandpa, don't worry. I'm already looking into it. I won't let Windy get away with it. I'll make her pay and give you a proper explanation."
The old man nodded, looking pleased. "Good. Handle it. Get to the bottom of it."
He paused, turned to Olivia, full of regret. "Olivia, I'm sorry. I misjudged back then and trusted Windy. I even told you to give in to her. You suffered so much because of me. I let you down."