Chapter22ADireEndWithNoDescendants Chapter22ADireEndWithNoDescendants +5Free Coins Whileeveryonewas caughtupintheissueofmenotreturningtothefamily,Anna,whohadbeenquietlystandingby,suddenlybrokedownintears.
Grandma,eversinceIreturned,youvetreated mecoldly,thinkingImovershadowingmysister.YouvieweverythingIdoasmanipulative.Ivewrongedmysister andthefamily.Ishouldneverhavecomeback.Imnotagoodgranddaughter… Withthat,shesuddenlydartedtowardsthewall..
Anna! Ethan,whohadjustwalkedin,quicklyinterceptedher,andAnnacollidedwithhisstomach.
Thefamilyimmediatelycircledaroundher,expressionsfilledwithconcern.Anna,areyoualright?Whywouldyouattemptsucharecklessthing? Dad,Ineverwantedto upset GrandmaorcausediscordbetweenChloeandEthanuponherreturn.IfIhadknownmyreturnwoulddisruptthefamilylikethis,Iwouldhavepreferredtonevercomeback.
Annasinherentlygentledemeanormadehertearsseemevenmorepitiful,drawingsympathyfromeveryone.

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ThoseinitiallyupsetaboutmyabsenceswiftlydirectedtheirfrustrationatGrandma,withevenmytypicallyquietfatherspeakingout.
Mom,AnnaandChloearebothyourgranddaughters.Howcanyoushowsuchfavoritism?Chloesactionsaretherealcauseofworryinthefamily.YouoverlookChloesfaultsyetyouscoldus.Thatstoomuch! Grandma,alreadyupset,grewangrieratbeingrebukedbyhersonatherage.Shepointedatremblingfingeratmyfather,Areyoublind?She… Annainterjected,pullingmyfatherback,Dad,pleasedontarguewithGrandmaoverme.Ifitcausesmorediscord,Idbetrulyingrateful.Grandma,ifyouneedtoblamesomeone,blameme,notDad.
Grandmawassoiratethatshewasatalossforwords,butshefinallysawmyperspective.
Annahaddonenothingovert,yetherfewwordshaddeftlyshiftedthefamilysresentmenttowardme.
Hertacticswere subtleyetdeeplyeffective,wearingmedownoverthepastfewyears.
Enough! Grandma,todaysyourbirthday,dontletangerspoilititsnotworthharmingyourhealth.
Mom,whyareyouquarrelingwithayounggirlatyourage? Mrs.Lambert,pleasemakesuremymomistakencareofandbringhertothebanquetlater.
AgroupofpeopleleftwithAnna,leavingGrandmasoangrythatshewasreadytopickuphercaneandthrowitatthem,Getout,allofyougetout! OldMadam,dontgettooemotional.
Mrs.Lambert,whohadbeenwithGrandmafordecades,wasverydistressed.
Shehelpedherontothebedandbroughtheracupofteatocalmherdown.
IhesitatedasIwatchedGrandma,hersilverhairanddeeplylinedfacesofteningintosadnessassheclutchedMrs.Lambertshand.GoseeifChloehasreturnedyet?sheaskedwithatremorinhervoice.
Ofcourse, Illcheckrightnow.Youshouldrest,Mrs.Lambertreplied.Chloewouldbedevastatedseeingyouupset.
Illtrytostaycalm,Grandmaassuredher,dabbingathereyes.Shesdealingwithsomuchalready;Icantaddtoherburden.
1/3 Chapter22ADireEndWithNoDescendants +5Free Coins WitnessingGrandmastrugglingtosuppresshertearsstirredadeeplongingwithinmetocomforther,yetduetotherestrictionsofthebeadedbraceletLukewore,Ifoundmyselfdriftingfurtherfromtheisolatedfigureonthebed,hersorrowpalpableinthesolitude.
ThedisillusionmentwithmyfamilyandloverhadledmetobelieveIwasindifferenttoall.
Yet,inthatmoment,itwasclearthatGrandmaremainedtheanchorIcouldnotsever .
BesideLuke,Iwhispered,laden withremorse,Grandma,Imsorry.Imsosorry.
Thethoughtofhergrapplingwiththenewsofmydemisewasunbearable.Couldsheenduresuchaheartache? Theroomsooncleared,leavingjustAnnaandLuke.
LukesattentionwassolelyfixedonAnna,seemingtoeraseanymemoryofmypresence.
Anna,dontletGrandmaswordsbotheryou.Shesgettingoninyears.
Iunderstand,butsinceGrandmahassuchstrongfeelingsagainstme,Idoubtshewouldacceptanygiftsfromme.
ShehandedhimthehumanskinBible,Luke,couldyougivethistoGrandma?Shesdevout andalwaysreadingtheBible.ThisBibleisblessedbyapriest;itshouldbringherpeaceandlongevity.
Yourereallythoughtful,Anna.Grandmawillseeyourtrueheartoneday.Handitover,Lukereassuredherasheacceptedthebook.
Lukeacceptedthebook,feelinghesitantaboutitseerienature.Yet,whenhegraspedit,hisfingersinadvertentlycaressedthe cover.
Thesurfacewasunexpectedlysmooth,resemblingawomansskin,whichlefthimoddlyunsettled.
Realizinghismorbidthought,Lukequicklydismisseditasabsurd.
Andremember,Luke,Grandmareallydoesntlikeme.PleasedonttellherIgavethisorwhatitsreallymadeof.Shemightnottakeitwell.
Igotit,Lukereplied,pattingherheadsoothingly.
Dont worryaboutitanymore.Youknowweallcareaboutyou.
Yourethebest.
Thetwoflauntedtheiraffection,makingituncomfortabletowitness.
AfterpartingfromAnna,LukecarriedthebookandhisowngifttoGrandmasroom.Shehadjustfinishedherteaandseemedmoreatease.
Asheentered,shemistookthefootsteps,hopeful,Isthatyou,Chloe?Letmetakealookatyou… HerexpressionchilledimmediatelyuponseeingLuke.Whatareyoudoinghereagain?shedemandedcoldly.
LukeunderstoodGrandmasangerandadjustedhisapproach,sittingdownonastoolnexttoherbed.Grandma,Imadeamistakebyrunningawayfromthewedding.IvelovedChloeforyears;shestheonlywomanforme.Annaisjustmysister.IpromiseyouthatIlltakegoodcareofChloefromnowonandneverhurtheragain.
Grandmanarrowedhereyes,herexpressionstern,Remember,Godiswatchingfromabove.Ifyouregoingtomakepromises,swearbyHim.BetrayChloe,andyoullbecursedwithamiserableendandnodescendantstomournyou!Lukefeltdeflated.
ThoughheintendedtosevertieswithAnna,theirrecentpastlingered… What?Cantswear?Thenstoptryingtofoolmewithyourlies ! Chapter22ADireEndWithNoDescendants ProvokedbyGrandmaschallenge,Lukeresponded,Imeaneveryword,Grandma.Imnotafraid.
+5FreeCoins Withthat,hemovedtowardstheshrine.Theroom,dedicatedtospiritualreverence,wasfilledwithasoftsandalwoodaroma.
ThestatueofJesuscastserenehisgazeupontheworld.
Lukekneltonthecushion,hisgazeliftedtothecompassionateeyesofJesus,hisheartbeatingfaster.
Standingbywithhercane,Grandmapressed,Well,goon.Swearifyoudare.
Raisinghishandsolemnly,Lukeswore,I,LukeBolton,willloveChloeSanderandonlyChloeSanderforallmylife.Ivownevertobetrayher.Iwillguardher,cherishher,andloveherwithoutreservation.ShouldIbreakthisoath,mayImeetadireendandleavenodescendants.
Justashefinished,asuddenflashoflightningsplittheskyoutside.
Crash!