Chapter 268: Pain

On the way home, Julian Faulkner shared a few more things with Vivian Lowell.

The first was regarding Wendy Wynn and that “Miss Bell.”

“Their case is relatively simple, so today’s second trial had nothing to do with them. Although they were dissatisfied and filed an appeal, the original verdict was upheld,” Julian explained.

“I’ll keep a close eye on Wendy’s situation. Once she’s released after serving her sentence, I’ll contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have her deported. Her life won’t be easy once she’s sent abroad.”

Vivian nodded.

Wendy and Miss Bell were both the type to dig their own graves. Vivian had no sympathy for either of them.

The second matter Julian brought up was about the night in Cyrina when the siblings, Sylvia Drake and Finn Drake, tried to drug and harm them.

“They’ve already been taken into custody. The lawyers stated that with the attempted murder charge, coupled with the fact that they drugged you, sentencing them to a dozen years or so won’t be a problem. ⅇ

“As for that bassist, even though he was almost killed, he was still working for Sylvia and Finn. He won’t escape spending a few years behind bars either.

“People who want to commit evil deeds should think carefully beforehand if they can bear the consequences.”

Julian spoke with extreme calm.

After listening, Vivian leaned back against the soft cushion. “It’s their own fault things ended up this way. I have no objections.

“Julian, I’m a bit tired and want to rest. I’ll take a nap first. Wake me up when we get home, okay?”

“Alright.”

Julian agreed and asked Vance Wyatt to dim the lights inside the car.

Upon arriving home, Vivian saw Mr. Drake standing at the entrance of the villa.

He was holding a box in his hands, looking as if he had been waiting specifically at the Faulkner family’s doorstep.

Seeing him, Vivian immediately walked over after getting out of the car. “Mr. Drake, why are you standing out here?”

“Vivian, I heard you’re pregnant. I’m sorry, I only just found out. I… I thought about it and felt I should bring you something. These are all snacks.

“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just grabbed a bit of everything. Oh, and I have a friend who runs a restaurant in Aethelburg. He makes wonderful pastries!

“Now that you’re pregnant and have a little baby growing inside you, you should eat smaller, more frequent meals. His pastries are very nutritious. What do you like? I can tell him to make some for you, how about that?

“Pregnancy is very tough, and it can be dangerous. Vivian, you must take good care of yourself. You absolutely must.”

Mr. Drake’s voice trembled slightly as he said this.

Vivian froze, her nose instantly stinging with unshed tears as she recalled something.

Mr. Drake’s daughter had gotten into a car accident while she was pregnant. Of her family of three, only the posthumous child survived, and to this day, no one knew where that child was.

Mr. Drake had been searching for his granddaughter, but he still hadn’t found her.

No wonder Mr. Drake had said so much all at once upon learning of her pregnancy, expressing such worry and bringing her food.

He must have been thinking of his daughter.

“Mr. Drake, I’ll take good care of myself.” Unable to bear seeing the old man so sorrowful, Vivian accepted the box he brought and said gently, “The sun is strong. Don’t stand out here for too long, or you might get heatstroke.

“Let me walk you home, okay?”

“Okay, okay,” Mr. Drake agreed. Leaning heavily on his walking stick, he headed back to his house with Vivian.

The Drake’s home was as quiet and desolate as ever.

Coming over this time, Vivian noticed a few new additions in the living room. They were all little girl’s items. The objects looked brand new, yet simultaneously gave off a faded, vintage feel.

Naturally, that was because their designs were quite dated, like things from many years ago.

“Mr. Drake, what are these?”

Vivian knew Mr. Drake lived alone, with only two or three maids and an elderly gardener in the house. The massive villa was empty and lonely.

“They’re all prepared for my granddaughter,” Mr. Drake said, choking up slightly. “I bought a lot of these before she was even born. I figured, being a little girl, she would surely love dolls and plush toys.

“Aside from those, there are educational toys like building blocks and a rocking horse. I thought that when she grew a bit older, I could play with her.

“When I first returned to the country, there was too much to bring back all at once. Now that I’ve been back for a while, I’ve had relatives abroad slowly send them over.

“This is only a small portion. They hold all my memories. I couldn’t bear to throw them away, so I put them here.

“Vivian, you’re a girl too. Did you have toys like these when you were little?”

Thinking about her own childhood, Vivian shook her head. “Mr. Drake, I was basically in classes all the time when I was little. I never had the chance to play with toys! I had piano lessons, dance classes, junior hosting classes, and all sorts of things.

“When I got a little older, I learned computer science and painting. I did have a doll, but I bought it with money I saved up myself. It was just that Sharon Galahad didn’t like seeing me play with them.

“She claimed that the Lowell family’s future businesses would rely on me, so I couldn’t be lazy.

“But what did she know? I wasn’t a robot; I needed rest too! Anyway, those things happened a long time ago, and I’m no longer a child.

“But… Mr. Drake, these things you bought for your granddaughter are all so adorable! I think if she could see them, she would absolutely love them. I’m sure of it!”

Mr. Drake smiled genuinely, the grandfatherly warmth on his face deepening as his previous sorrow gradually faded.

Seeing that Mr. Drake was finally much happier, Vivian breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. However, as her gaze swept over the toys he had bought for his granddaughter, she still felt a twinge of envy.

They always said grandparents doted on their grandchildren the most.

The Lowell family had no elders from the previous generation, so naturally, Vivian had no grandparents growing up. When she was little, she would watch other children’s grandparents pick them up from school with bags full of snacks, and she would feel so envious.

Sharon Galahad never brought Vivian anything to eat. She would say that girls shouldn’t eat too much or they would get fat, and that the daughters of the Lowell family needed to stay slim and slender to maintain their figures.

Vivian couldn’t argue. Her teachers had taught her to respect her parents.

When she felt her parents were wrong, she simply stayed silent and pretended she hadn’t heard them.

Vivian thought that Mr. Drake was definitely the kind of grandfather who doted on his granddaughter endlessly!

He couldn’t even bear to marry off his only daughter, opting instead to have his son-in-law marry into the Drake family. Unfortunately, fate was cruel, and a tragic accident befell Mr. Drake’s daughter and son-in-law.

Vivian chatted with Mr. Drake for a while longer before taking her leave. Right before she left, the Drake family’s little cat came over to rub against her affectionately.

Vivian liked the kitten a lot too. She stroked its fur for a long time before reluctantly saying goodbye.

Upon returning home, Vivian couldn’t help but talk to Grandma Faulkner about the Drake family.

Grandma Faulkner sighed in sympathy. “The old man is lonely all by himself. It’s a good thing he has a cat now. From what you’ve said, he truly misses his granddaughter.

“Let’s just hope his wish comes true and he finds her! Vivian, don’t overthink it. Everyone has their own destiny.

“In this world, absolute perfection is rare. For most people, life comes with its share of regrets and shortcomings. That’s what gives life meaning!

“We just hope those regrets aren’t too painful. But when they do happen, we have to learn to accept them rather than wallow in despair.

“Look at Master Drake. He’s heartbroken, yet he has continued living his life well all these years.”

Vivian nodded earnestly. “Grandma, you make so much sense. I can always learn a lot from chatting with you. It’s wonderful!”

As expected of the wise and experienced Grandma Faulkner—she was truly exceptional!

“You sweet child.” Seeing Vivian shower her with praise, Grandma Faulkner chuckled and added, “Alright, you must be tired. See if you want to go upstairs to rest, or stay here and watch TV with me!

“It’s getting late today, so you shouldn’t go back to the company, right?”

“Mhm.”

Vivian agreed.

It was indeed getting late, and she didn’t want to make another trip to the company. There was still half a month left before their trip to Gallia. Grandma Faulkner was going this time too, and she wondered if the brand would invite the Drake family as well.

If Mr. Drake went too, they could all go beachcombing in Brettony together!

She wondered if they would actually be able to catch lobsters.

And then there were the vast fields of lavender Julian had mentioned—she was looking forward to that as well!