Chapter 228: Time Flies (2)
During that time, whenever she was free, she would go to accompany Grandpa Hawkins. He told her many things, saying that his biggest regret in this life was not being able to see his great-grandson from the Hawkins family, and that he had little time left.
At that moment, Carolline didn’t know why but she suddenly felt a sense of sadness. She excitedly grasped Grandpa Hawkins’s hand, "No, Grandpa, you do have a great-grandson. Axel is your great-grandson. Wait, I will bring him here for you to see and hold him, okay?"
Carolline cried as she called Andy Aguirre, asking him to bring Axel over from home. At that moment, she didn’t think much about anything else; she just wanted to fulfill the dying old man’s wish.
Andy brought Axel who was staring at his great-grandfather with his big, round, black eyes, his little mouth slightly raised. Grandpa Hawkins was so touched that tears filled his eyes. With Carolline’s assistance, he held Axel securely in his arms.
"Carolline, you are the great hero of our Hawkins family. I owe you a lot in this life; I’ll repay it to you in the next one." Grandpa Hawkins returned Axel to Carolline, "No matter what considerations you had for concealing such a significant matter from us, I believe you have your reasons. Don’t worry, even if I know that Axel is my great-grandson, it will not change anything. Carolline, thank you for all your efforts."
That was the longest and most coherent speech Grandpa Hawkins had made since being hospitalized. Carolline’s tears streamed down her face as she could not speak a word, knowing that Grandpa might leave them at any moment.
Birth, aging, illness, and death are natural parts of life that everyone experiences. However, at that moment, she felt somewhat overwhelmed.
"Don’t cry, Carolline. I’m not afraid of death. I’ve lived long enough. Give Bryan Cooper some time and let him be punished. Don’t blame him for the rest of his life. Axel needs a complete family." Grandpa Hawkins held Carolline’s hand with his trembling fingers, "Carolline, my time is running out. Take the child back and help me find your grandma and the others."