Chapter 11: Grandpa Lewis Is Failing Fast

"When will you be willing to acknowledge the child?" Waylon Lewis's voice was cold and sharp as his piercing eyes swept over her.

Hope Williams felt a surge of anger, "Why should I tell you?"

"Because that's my seed," he stated coldly.

"It's the child I gave birth to!"

"Could you have given birth without my seed?"

Hope Williams looked at the man in astonishment. He'd provided only a sperm, and she had done all the nurturing, yet he dared to be proud? Had the audacity to claim?

"It was you who rejected them." Her voice rose, heated.

"..."

Waylon Lewis was stunned for a moment, unable to argue.

"Scumbag! Now you want them, and I'm just supposed to hand them over? As if you, President Lewis, own the world? Too late, I fought tooth and nail to bring them into this world, and I won't let you take them away from me."

Waylon's mood was complex, his tone still cool, "Did I say I wanted to take them away?"

"Then what do you mean?"

"As a father, don't I even have the right to lay eyes on my child?"

"You still remember you're a father!" Hope Williams sneered coldly. She was no longer the naive Hope Williams who would easily believe his words.

At that moment, Waylon's phone rang; it was Alitzel Williams, his mother.

"Hello, Mom." Waylon's voice was as cold as usual.

"Waylon, are you with Joy? Hurry back home, Grandpa Lewis is having another attack, he's not doing well."

Boom! Hope's heart seemed to be struck hard.

Grandpa Lewis isn't doing well?!

Waylon also tightened inside, abandoned his languid posture, gripped the steering wheel firmly, and turned left toward the old family home, "I'll be right back."

"What's wrong with Grandpa? What disease has he got, Waylon?" Hope asked, her eyes full of urgency.

No matter how the Lewis Family had treated her in the past, Grandpa Lewis had always been exceptionally kind to her. In the Lewis Family, Grandpa Lewis was the only one who offered her warmth.

Now, suddenly learning that Grandpa Lewis was not faring well, Hope couldn't accept it.

"Heart disease," Waylon replied heavily.

The car sped to the Lewis Family's old house, and Thomas Hughes arrived soon after with Joy Ward.

Joy rushed to Waylon's side, "Waylon, don't panic, I'll check on Grandpa's condition first."

Joy had been Grandpa Lewis's primary doctor these past few days. Having studied abroad and specializing in cardiovascular surgery, she was an expert in this field.

Waylon responded with a low voice, "Mhm."

Hope Williams ran into the old Lewis house, familiarly finding Grandpa Lewis's room.

Just as she reached the door, low sobbing sounds came from inside.

Hope's heart tightened, and she hurried inside.

Upon entering the room, her breath nearly caught.

Inside were many people, direct descendants of the Lewis Family, including Waylon's parents, Christopher Lewis, Alitzel Williams, and a few of Waylon's uncles.

The sound at the door caused everyone to turn around.

They all recognized Hope, and their expressions were shockingly surprised to see her reappear after vanishing for five years.

"Hope Williams, why have you come back?" Alitzel Williams nearly roared at her.

Years ago, considering the debt of gratitude owed to Hope's parents by the Lewis family, they agreed to the Williams Family's request to marry Hope to Waylon. Although the family status was mismatched, they hoped that Hope would be a well-behaved girl. To their surprise, after three years of marriage, she ran away without a word, leaving the entire Lewis Family deeply disgusted; even Old Master Lewis, who had doted on her like his own granddaughter.

What a way to repay the Lewis Family's kindness – the elderly master's illness was undoubtedly aggravated by her actions.

"Why did you even come?"

"Uncle, Aunt, I don't have time to explain. Can I see Grandpa?"

Hope saw the old man lying on the large bed, eyes tightly closed, his face gaunt and eyes sunken, breathing weakly with the help of a respirator, and her heart ached fiercely.

"Who let you in? You're not welcome here," Alitzel Williams turned away and reprimanded her coldly.

"Mom, Grandpa has always hoped for sister-in-law to return. Now that she's back, let her see Grandpa first."

Hope's eyes were gratefully fixed on Wyatt Lewis, who had spoken up.

"Shut up, she's not your sister-in-law. Waylon has divorced her, she has nothing to do with our Lewis Family anymore," Alitzel Williams was clearly angry.

"I brought her here," said Waylon, entering the room.

"Waylon?"

When Alitzel Williams saw Waylon returning with Joy, her demeanor improved slightly, disregarding the rest, she rushed past Hope and grabbed Joy by the hand, "Joy, quickly check on Old Master, he's having an attack again."

"Aunt, please don't worry, I'll take a look at Grandpa first," Joy hurried toward the Elder Lewis, giving Hope a provocative smile.

Hope didn't ignore her provocation, but she was solely focused on Elder Lewis and had no mind for anything else.

Hope tried to get closer to the Elder Lewis to examine his condition but was stopped by the old housekeeper, "Miss Williams, please stay back." They wouldn't let her approach, so Hope could only stand to the side, anxious.

It was an unbearable ordeal for Hope personally, and professionally as a medical person.

None here trusted her. Hope anxiously looked around, her gaze settling on Wyatt.

Wyatt raised his eyebrows towards Hope, nudging his brother to intervene on her behalf.

Eventually, Hope's pleading gaze fell on Waylon.

Surrounded by a stifling aura of sorrow, Waylon's mood was somber.

"Waylon, can you let me go and check on Grandpa?" Hope asked with a plea in her eyes.

His gaze was ice-cold as it briefly moved across her, "I didn't bring you here to cause trouble. Make any more noise, and I'll have you sent back."

After Joy finished examining the Elder Lewis, her face was filled with worry, and everyone crowded closer.

Alitzel Williams asked with urgency, "Joy, you can save Grandpa, can't you?"

Joy hesitated, shook her head sorrowfully, and looked at Alitzel Williams with sadness.

"Aunt, I'm sorry, but Grandpa—he…"