Chapter 257

Lily's POV

The sun shone brilliantly over the Sullivan estate on Long Island, casting golden patterns through the trees onto the manicured lawn where guests mingled. It had been a month since all the chaos with Zane had ended—a month of relative peace that felt like a gift after everything we'd been through.

I stood near the patio doors, watching Richard in his wheelchair as he greeted various family members. His birthday had actually passed two weeks ago, but he'd insisted on postponing the celebration until he felt strong enough to enjoy it properly. Looking around, I was amazed at how many people from different families had come together.

Richard's face lit up when he spotted me. He gestured for me to come closer, his hand trembling slightly with the effort.

"I'm happy to see all of you here together," he said, reaching for my hand and then Nathan's, joining them together. Despite his frail appearance, his eyes sparkled with genuine joy.

Nathan squeezed my hand. "So am I."

I leaned against Nathan's shoulder, savoring the moment. Things between us had been perfect lately—well, as perfect as they could be with two stubborn people who occasionally disagreed about everything from breakfast choices to security arrangements.

Richard turned to Elizabeth, who was holding Eleanor in her arms. "You should get along with your daughter-in-law," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "Lily has always been like a daughter to me, so I need all of you to take care of her in the future."

My throat tightened at his words. The way he spoke—as if he wouldn't be around much longer—was hard to handle. I tried to focus on how happy he looked rather than how his body was betraying him. He was even skinnier now and had lost most of his strength, but his spirit remained undiminished.

Elizabeth kissed Eleanor's forehead, bouncing her gently. "Don't worry. We get along very well."

I nodded in agreement, though privately I thought our relationship worked best when Elizabeth didn't try to dictate how I should raise Eleanor. As long as she stayed in her lane on that front, we did indeed get along well.

"Uncle Nathan, we need you to play hide-and-seek with us because they are cheating!" Sophie's indignant voice cut through the moment as she tugged at Nathan's hand.

"S-sure," Nathan stammered, clearly intimidated by this small girl who dared to make demands of him. It was amusing to see how Sophie had inherited William's assertiveness.

I giggled as Sophie dragged Nathan away, already lecturing him about how Alex and the others weren't playing fair. Nathan glanced back at me with mock desperation in his eyes.

Alex had changed since punishing his father. He'd become warmer, more present—a better leader. He now managed the family's West Coast businesses, which had taken a considerable burden off Nathan's shoulders.

Richard beckoned me closer once they'd gone. "It's good to see they're getting along—isn't it?" he asked, watching the children chase Nathan across the lawn. "Why aren't you with your family? The Donovans?"

I glanced toward where my father stood, loudly boasting about some business achievement while Tyler sent daggers with his eyes from across the gathering. Sean was trying to be the center of attention as usual.

"You're my family," I told Richard simply. "I'm good here."

His face relaxed into a contented smile. "You're right—you are." He patted my hand excitedly. "Did you know who came to visit me yesterday? James!"

"James?" I asked, surprised. James had distanced himself from Sullivan family business after everything that happened, though he and Nathan had remained close friends.

"Good," Richard nodded. "He also agrees that you and Nathan should finally set a date for the wedding."

"Oh, really?" I gulped. After the whole cheating drama with Grace, I'd been unsure about myself—about us. Not that I didn't trust Nathan; I did. But I worried that once we were married, he might grow bored with me, or I might not live up to what he expected, and then we'd end up divorced. I wasn't still at that place where I wanted to rush things.

"Maybe after the baby is born," I suggested, immediately regretting my words. With Richard's condition, he probably wouldn't even make it to the baby's birth.

Elizabeth swooped in, perhaps sensing my discomfort. "Richard, why don't you give Eleanor your present now?"

Richard's face brightened. "Ah, yes." He reached for the chain around his neck. "I got this from my father, and he got it from my grandfather and so on." With visible effort, he began to unfasten the necklace.

I winced watching him struggle. He was in immense pain, but like Logan—and Nathan and William too—he would never admit it. Only Derek was different; he and Jake were still at the retreat, finding their own paths to healing.

I wanted to tell Richard that my daughter didn't need his necklace, but I couldn't disrespect him like that. Just nod and smile, I told myself.

Elizabeth carefully placed Eleanor on Richard's lap. The old man looked down at my daughter with such tenderness that I had to blink back tears.

"Please grow up knowing grandpa loves you very much," he whispered to Eleanor, "and don't ever forget about me." He slipped the necklace into the pocket of her tiny jeans.

I felt a sad feeling in my heart and held back my tears.

Elizabeth leaned down and kissed Richard's cheek. "I will remind you of her every single day," she promised. "I'll make sure she won't forget about you and all you've done for this family, ever."

My lips trembled as I let the tears roll down my cheeks. "I'm sorry," I mumbled, covering my face with my hands.

"I told you no one is allowed to cry today," Elizabeth scolded gently, handing me a tissue. "Today is supposed to be a happy day!"

"I know," I sniffled. "I'm just so grateful—"

"Why is she crying?" Nathan appeared suddenly, looking concerned. "What did you do, mom?" He immediately came to my side and pulled me into his arms.

Richard laughed heartily at the scene.

"Nothing, these are happy tears!" Elizabeth protested. "How am I to blame for this?"

Richard cleared his throat, looking intently at Nathan. "You must marry this girl, and the two of you must live a long and happy life." His gaze drifted to his wife, and I recognized that look. It was the same way Nathan looked at me—like she was his entire world. They deserved more time together, but fate had a different plan.

Nathan gently placed his hand on my stomach, which wasn't visible yet. "We will get married," he assured his father. "After the baby is born."

Not if it was up to me, I thought, though I kept my expression neutral.

Richard suddenly began coughing violently. Elizabeth rushed to his side. "What is it?" she asked, her voice tight with worry. "Are you tired? Do you need sleep? Do you need me to—"

"No," Richard said firmly, waving her away. "I'm still having fun. Take me around the garden." He pushed away her hands as she reached for the wheelchair handles. "I want to take a walk...just this time."

I nudged Nathan. "Your father wants to walk."

Nathan nodded. "Yes, we can take a walk." He glanced at me. "Lily, you should come with us."

"Of course," I agreed, lifting Eleanor from Richard's lap.

Nathan and Elizabeth supported Richard on either side as he struggled to his feet. I followed behind with Eleanor in my arms, watching Richard's faltering steps with a heavy heart.

In the garden, Richard paused to admire the flowers. "These flowers are really nice," he remarked. Neither Elizabeth nor Nathan shared his enthusiasm for gardening, but they nodded politely, unwilling to spoil his enjoyment.

Richard turned to us, his expression serious. "My wife has been too ashamed to bring this up...but when I'm not here anymore—I would like for you to move in with her, keep her company in this dark and lonely mansion."

"Richard!" Elizabeth exclaimed, clearly embarrassed.

I bit back a smile.

"So you want us to move in with you?" I pretended to consider it deeply. "I suppose we can do that—why not?"

"Really?" Nathan and Elizabeth asked simultaneously, both looking equally surprised.

Even if Richard hadn't asked, I knew Nathan would have suggested it eventually, and I wouldn't have been able to refuse. Besides, we had plenty of time to renovate the mansion to our taste.

"Dad, I would be honored to take over this house," Nathan said solemnly.

"I don't mind living with my second mom," I teased.

"Thank you," she said eventually. "I appreciate that."

Richard sighed with relief. "Now that I know your mother will be in good hands, I can finally be at peace." He smiled contentedly. "This is the happiest I've been in a while."

I remembered Richard saying something similar after Zane died—"Now I can finally be at peace." It seemed peace came to him in stages.

"I feel the same," Elizabeth agreed, looking at her husband with tenderness.

"I want to lay down on the grass," Richard announced suddenly. "It's been years since I've done that."

Elizabeth helped him sit down on the lawn, then, to my surprise, she sat down beside him. I raised my eyebrows, amazed that the fancy Elizabeth would willingly sit on the ground. Both Nathan and Richard laughed at my expression.

"Is this entertaining to you?" Elizabeth asked, smoothing her expensive dress over her knees.

"It's just..." Richard's eyes crinkled with amusement. "In all those years we've been married, you've always refused to sit on the ground." He reached for her hand. "But I'm glad to be here with you."

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth said softly. "Had I known it was that important to you, I would've done it a long time ago."

"It's okay," Richard said, but his breathing became labored, making a terrific sound that didn't sound good at all. Nathan's stiff expression confirmed my suspicions.

"Knowing I am loved by the most beautiful woman in the world is more than I could've ever asked for," Richard whispered, his voice growing fainter.

Elizabeth, still in a good mood, was in deep denial and did not notice what was happening.

"And Nathan?" Richard choked out, his eyes finding his son's face.

Nathan knelt beside his father, taking his hand. His face was a mask of control, but I could see the storm of emotions behind it.