Chapter 549

Patriarch Sullivan's sudden hypertensive episode was puzzling.

He hadn't been affected when Isabella Sullivan had held him hostage before.

How could he collapse so suddenly when everything seemed fine?

Patriarch Sullivan lay in the hospital bed, his breathing faint.

Those old, buried matters were stuck in his throat, impossible to voice.

He could only close his eyes, struggling to calm the turbulent emotions within him.

That evening, Albert Sullivan came to visit.

The old man trembled as he grasped his younger brother's hand, his voice low like a sigh.

"Albert... in my life, the person I've wronged the most is you."

Albert was taken aback.

His elder brother had never spoken like this before.

He forced an awkward smile.

"Brother, this old ailment of yours isn't life-threatening."

Patriarch Sullivan's gaze was cloudy, yet it fixed intently on him.

"Even if I pass like this, I have no regrets... But you don't have any children. How will you and Sylvia manage when you're old?"

Albert's expression grew serious.

He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Brother, don't worry about my affairs. When we're old, Sylvia and I will move into a nursing home. We won't be a burden to anyone."

Patriarch Sullivan's heart sank.

Something in his mind suddenly became clear.

After Albert left, the old man became even more certain.

His younger brother had truly regained his memory.

He no longer spoke nonsense or acted recklessly.

Now his thoughts were clear, and his actions were steady.

But this only made the old man more worried.

When Albert visited again the next day, Patriarch Sullivan offered another round of apologies and regrets.

Albert couldn't figure out what game the old man was playing.

He simply continued to play dumb, going along with the old man's roundabout conversation.

Patriarch Sullivan grew anxious inside.

His brother's defensiveness was now so strong.

Getting any real information out of him was proving extremely difficult.

On the fifth day, the old man specifically had someone summon Liam Sullivan.

Liam had been worried about his grandfather's condition these past days.

But he had too many matters on his hands, and with preparing for his wedding to Vivian Bennett, he hadn't been able to visit the hospital.

The car stopped outside the hospital building.

Liam turned to Vivian, speaking softly.

"Wait for me in the car. Don't get out."

Vivian leaned back in the seat, giving him a disdainful glance.

"I'm not a child."

Liam affectionately ruffled her hair before unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the car.

Vivian played on her phone alone in the car.

Glancing up unintentionally, she saw Eleanor Sullivan walking out of the hospital's main entrance.

It had been a long time since she'd seen Eleanor.

Thinking about her impending marriage to Liam, Vivian felt a stir in her heart.

She pushed the car door open and called out softly.

"Grandma."

Eleanor turned toward the voice.

In the sunlight, Vivian's slender figure stood gracefully.

The old woman's heart softened.

"Vivian, what are you doing at the hospital?" she asked, walking toward Vivian.

Noticing Liam's car nearby, Eleanor immediately understood.

Vivian pressed her lips together.

"I came with Liam."

Eleanor nodded in understanding.

Although Patriarch Sullivan hadn't explicitly forbidden Vivian and Liam from being together anymore, he hadn't truly accepted her either.

With the old man lying ill in bed, unable to handle any stress, Liam had asked Vivian to wait outside.

"You're about to marry Liam, and you still don't know to come visit me?" Eleanor said with a smile.

Vivian was momentarily stunned.