Chapter 616: Old Master Mercer Passes Away

Connor Mercer’s eyes grew a little misty. "Then you have to wait for me, Grandpa. You have to watch me get a girlfriend and watch me get married."

"Okay, okay," Old Master Mercer said, tears glistening in his eyes. "This is wonderful. Our family has so many people, and our ranks are growing stronger. In the future, Ivy will have a baby, and all of you will have your own children too."

It was just a pity that he probably wouldn’t live to see it. He knew his own physical condition. Having lived most of his life, being able to find Ivy and bring her back meant his greatest wish was finally fulfilled.

Everyone else’s eyes welled up with tears as well. The old man spoke a lot; it was obvious that he was particularly happy today. He gave them many instructions, going over every little detail. They stayed by his side, all harboring an ominous premonition in their hearts.

Later on, when the old man looked extremely exhausted, he finally took Ivy Sherwood’s hand.

"Ivy, you and Quentin stay. I want to speak with the two of you alone. Everyone else, please step out for now," he said, forcing himself to endure his physical discomfort.

"Grandpa..." Ivy wiped her tears. "Grandpa..."

Seeing her grandfather like this truly broke her heart. She gripped his hand tightly, shaking her head incessantly.

The others were reluctant to leave, but the old man insisted, "I’m fine. Go out first, and come back in a bit."

Xavier Mercer, being the eldest, took charge and ushered everyone out of the room. Although they were all worried, the old man’s condition was critical. If this was his wish, they would oblige him.

Once everyone else had left, only Ivy and Quentin Blackwood remained.

Old Master Mercer tightly grasped both Ivy’s and Quentin’s hands, bringing them together. He looked at Quentin. "I’m entrusting my precious granddaughter to you. If you dare mistreat her or cause her the slightest bit of grievance, I won’t let you off even from beyond the grave!"

"Grandpa, Grandpa, why don’t you rest for a while? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere right now? I’ll go call the doctor," Ivy pleaded, her tears falling drop by drop.

Her grandfather’s demeanor felt like he was imparting his final words, fueling the ominous dread in her heart. Accompanied by an overwhelming terror, she felt as though he was about to leave her forever.

Quentin placed a hand on Ivy’s shoulder and gave a firm nod. "I will!

"I’ll take good care of Ivy, but not just because you asked me to. She’s the woman I love, my wife, my person, so I must protect her well. This is my duty as a man; it’s what I ought to do."

Quentin’s words left the old man extremely satisfied. He nodded. "Good, good."

A smile graced his lips, as if he no longer had any lingering worldly concerns.

Ivy said, "Grandpa, Quentin and I are getting our marriage certificate the day after tomorrow. I’ll show it to you then. And shortly after that will be our wedding. You promised me, Grandpa, that you’d take my hand and walk me down the aisle."

She wiped away her tears and continued, "Grandpa, when the baby is born, they’ll call you Great-Grandpa. You have to help me teach the baby then, Grandpa... Grandpa..."

It felt as if a hole had been torn in Ivy’s heart. She and her grandfather had only just reunited. They had missed out on so many years together, and there was supposed to be a beautiful life waiting for them ahead. She didn’t want her grandfather to leave, but she was so terrified.

Ivy absolutely loathed partings and death. It was just like when her mother had left her; she hadn’t understood anything and couldn’t do anything about it. She could only watch helplessly as the heavens took her loved ones away, watching them leave her side.

She didn’t want this. She wanted her grandfather to live a long, healthy life.

The old man murmured, "Our little Ivy is getting married. It’s Grandpa’s fault... for missing out on so much of your life."

As he spoke, he shifted slightly, fumbling to pull out a black card. He pressed it into Ivy’s hand. "This was originally the dowry Grandpa prepared for your mother. It’s just a pity she wasn’t blessed enough to use it. All these years, Grandpa has been saving it for her. Now that you’re getting married, Grandpa is giving it all to you.

"Ivy, be happy, be joyful."

Saying these words seemed to drain every last ounce of strength from his body. He seemed tired, his eyes slowly drifting shut.

"Grandpa! Grandpa! Look at me again, Grandpa! Open your eyes and look at me!" Ivy panicked.

Her tears burst forth like a breached dam, completely beyond her control. She gripped the old man’s hand tightly, but at that exact moment, his hand went limp. The heart monitor beside the bed flatlined, emitting a piercing BEEP.

"Grandpa! Grandpa!" Ivy couldn’t believe it. Her grandfather had just left her like this. She threw herself over him, sobbing uncontrollably. "I don’t want anything! I just want you to come back, Grandpa!

"I only just found you! How could this happen, Grandpa? You promised you wouldn’t leave me. You said I had finally found my family, that you’d stay by my side for the rest of my life..."

Ivy was emotionally devastated; she had no way to calm herself down. She wondered why it was that good people always left this world so easily, while those who committed endless evils lived on for so long.

"Grandpa!" Ivy’s voice tore at her throat as she desperately gripped his hand.

This had to be fake. Her grandfather definitely hadn’t left her. He must just be asleep. When he woke up, he would open his eyes and look at her.

"Ivy, I’ll go call the others in," Quentin said gently.

The cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death was the natural order of life; everyone had to go through it. Although Quentin usually had a heart of stone, seeing such a scene still made his heart ache.

They had done everything they could. Experts from all over the world had been invited, and they had even arranged for people to search on Jason Summers’s end, but nothing was found. Although they refused to accept it, everyone actually had a premonition. The old man’s slight recovery earlier might not have been an improvement in his condition, but a terminal lucidity—a final burst of energy before the end.

As if the heavens were also in mourning, the sky suddenly grew overcast. The daylight dimmed, signaling an impending, massive storm.

Everyone re-entered the room with heavy hearts and teary eyes.

Nina Scott rushed over immediately and hugged Ivy. "Ivy, please don’t be so sad. Grandpa, he..."

Nina couldn’t finish her sentence. The old man had been such a good person, and he had treated her so well. She hadn’t even had the heart to lie to him. Perhaps, in the moment he passed, he genuinely considered her his granddaughter-in-law.

Nina felt terrible too. She had originally come over to tell Ivy to stop crying, but unexpectedly, she was infected by the sorrow as well. The two of them wailed non-stop.

And just like that, Old Master Mercer had departed so abruptly. From the discovery of his poisoning to the rapid decline in his bodily functions, it hadn’t even been a few days in total. The tragedy struck too suddenly; no one was prepared for it.

Ivy’s heart was filled with even more self-blame. If it weren’t for her, her grandfather definitely wouldn’t have come to Lustre. And if he hadn’t come to Lustre, none of this would have happened.

She also harbored deep resentment towards Jason Summers. Jason was the real murderer. Not only had he killed her mother, but now he had also taken away her grandfather!