Free Web NovelChapter 57: Chapter 57
Elise froze at those words.
A heartbeat later, she stepped forward and lowered herself into a crouch before Mrs. Bennett.
"Grandma... I’m sorry."
The elderly woman lifted a trembling hand and gently stroked Elise’s hair. Tears spilled freely down her face as she smiled through the ache.
"Silly child. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me and Dylan. These past years... you’ve suffered far more than you ever should have."
At those words, the fragile composure Elise had been clinging to finally crumbled.
She buried her face against the old woman’s chest and wept.
Mrs. Bennett held her exactly as she always had, wrapping her in the same warmth and affection that had once made the Bennett household feel like home. freeweɓnøvel.com
Yet this embrace felt different.
Both of them knew it. This was not a goodbye spoken aloud, but one understood in silence.
Mrs. Bennett knew that once Elise walked away today, she would likely never return.
She had not become so old or senile that she could no longer see what was happening between the two young people she loved.
She had heard the whispers. Seen fragments of the stories circulating online.
Some were undoubtedly exaggerated, others perhaps entirely fabricated, but several old friends within their social circle had cautiously probed for information, asking questions disguised as casual concern.
The truth remained uncertain.
One thing, however, had become painfully clear.
Whatever existed between Dylan and Quinn was far from innocent.
And because of that realization, Mrs. Bennett had been forced to confront a far uglier truth within herself.
Back then, desperate for the sake of a future great-grandchild, she had said things to Elise that should never have been spoken.
She had always claimed to love Elise as her own granddaughter.
Yet when forced to choose, she had still wounded her.
Still disappointed her.
Still broken her heart.
Mrs. Bennett closed her eyes as tears soaked the wrinkles carved by age and regret.
"Elise," she whispered, her voice shaking, "you are one of the kindest children I have ever known. Wherever life takes you from now on, remember to be kinder to yourself. Stop spending all your strength taking care of everyone else. Learn to cherish your own happiness. Take care of yourself, sweetheart. Grandma... owes you an apology she can never repay."
Elise shook her head.
Words felt useless.
What could either of them possibly say now?
Both understood that this separation would likely be permanent.
Two innocent lives stood between her and Dylan.
She hated him.
And because she hated him, she could no longer pretend everything was normal and continue living as though nothing had happened with the Bennett family.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
"Grandma, please take care of yourself."
Her eyes shimmered with sorrow, but her voice remained steady.
"...I’m leaving now."
Through blurred, tear-filled eyes, Mrs. Bennett looked at her as though trying to memorize every feature.
Her aged hands trembled as they reached forward one final time to wipe away the tears on Elise’s cheeks.
"Our Elise has such beautiful eyes," she murmured softly. "Promise me that in the future... you’ll smile more often."
. . .
Not long afterward, Elise left.
Mrs. Lander personally escorted her outside and stood at the gates of the estate long after the car disappeared from sight. Only when it was completely gone did she finally turn around and return inside.
"Miss Pierce met Madam outside," she informed them upon entering. "I waited until they got into the car before coming back."
Mrs. Bennett released a long, weary sigh. The tears had stopped, yet her eyes remained swollen and red.
Mrs. Lander glanced toward the staircase.
Dylan had been standing quietly at the landing the entire time.
He had watched everything.
Not once had he intervened.
Turning back to Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Lander said softly, "Madam, I’ll leave you to rest. Call me if you need anything."
Mrs. Bennett nodded.
"Go on. Don’t worry about me."
After Mrs. Lander left the room, Dylan finally descended the stairs.
His footsteps were slow and heavy.
When he reached Mrs. Bennett, he lowered himself onto one knee before her wheelchair. His large hand closed around her frail one as he lowered his gaze.
"Grandma... I’m sorry."
Mrs. Bennett looked down at him. The eyes that met his were clouded by age and exhaustion.
There was disappointment there. Perhaps even resentment.
Yet neither emotion outweighed the love and heartache she still felt for the grandson she had raised.
"I’m old now," she said quietly. "I can no longer help you young people solve your problems. Dylan, the person who deserves your apology is not me."
Her voice grew heavier.
"It’s Elise."
Dylan lowered his eyes. His thick lashes concealed whatever emotions lay beneath.
He offered no explanation, no defense.
And Mrs. Bennett no longer had the strength to demand either.
Instead, she turned her head and gazed through the window.
Outside stretched a flawless blue sky. The weather was beautiful.
Sunlight poured through the glass and illuminated every luxurious detail of the villa, painting the mansion in warmth and gold.
Yet the house felt colder than it ever had before.
Because the one person who had truly filled it with life was gone.
Without Elise, all the wealth in the world could not make it feel like a home again.
"Dylan," Mrs. Bennett said after a long silence, "our family owes that child more than we can ever repay. I don’t care what burdens or secrets you’re carrying. I only want you to remember one thing."
She paused.
"No matter where fate leads you and Elise in this lifetime, if she ever finds herself in danger, you must protect her."
Dylan nodded firmly. The answer came without hesitation. "I will remember this."
***
Later, Madeline personally drove Elise home. The moment she stepped through the front door, she nearly lost her mind.
"Oh my God!" Her eyes widened dramatically as she spun around the foyer. "This is literally my dream house!"
She kicked off her shoes and took off like a whirlwind.
One moment she was hugging the sofa. The next she was running her hands along the marble island.
Then she pushed open the glass doors leading to the rooftop garden.
A piercing scream echoed through the house.
"Are you kidding me? A grape arbor! A koi pond! A chaise lounge! And an outdoor movie screen! This place is ridiculously perfect!"
By now, Elise had become completely immune to Madeline’s dramatic episodes.
She changed her shoes and quietly settled onto the living-room sofa.
The housekeeper, Melissa, immediately approached with a greeting smile.
"Miss Elise, have you and your friend had breakfast yet?"
"Not yet."
Leaning back against the cushions, Elise pressed two fingers against her throbbing temple.
"Madeline likes sweets. Prepare whatever desserts you think she’ll enjoy."
"Of course."
Melissa hesitated before asking, "And what would you like?"
"Just some rice porridge. My appetite isn’t very good."
The older woman studied her pale, exhausted face for a moment before speaking carefully.
"You’re pregnant, Miss Elise. Plain porridge alone won’t provide enough nutrition. The baby needs proper nourishment."
Instinctively, Elise lowered a hand to her stomach. A strange softness flickered across her expression.
After a brief silence, she nodded.
"Then follow the meal plan the hospital gave me."
"Absolutely."
Relieved, Melissa smiled and headed toward the kitchen.
Moments later, Madeline burst back inside and dropped dramatically onto the sofa beside her.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Elise, I just had an incredibly rude thought."
Without opening her eyes, Elise grabbed a throw pillow and placed it protectively over her abdomen.
"If it’s rude, then keep it to yourself."
Madeline immediately deflated. The injustice of life was truly unbearable.
A faint smile almost appeared on Elise’s lips before disappearing.
After a moment, she spoke quietly.
"Maddie, look at this."
The woman turned toward her. "Elise?"
Elise slowly opened her eyes. There was no bitterness in her voice.
"Even without Dylan in my life, I can actually live well."
Madeline froze.
Elise stared ahead, sunlight pooling across her face.
"For years, I believed I was the one who saved him." A faint, self-mocking smile touched her lips. "Now I finally understand the truth."
Her gaze softened with exhaustion.
"I thought I was his salvation."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the pillow.
"But he was the calamity fate sent to destroy me."
Madeline looked at her, eyes wide in disbelief. There were words she desperately wanted to say. Words she had never found the courage to voice.
Because despite everything they had seen, despite all the pain and misunderstandings, she could not shake the feeling that the truth was far more complicated than it appeared.
Somewhere deep down, she still believed Dylan was hiding something.
And perhaps, just perhaps, the man everyone blamed was carrying a burden no one else could see.
