Chapter 195

The driver immediately turned around and headed to the hospital. When Jason arrived, they were still rescuing Master Reed. He stood outside the emergency room, overwhelmed by a complex mix of emotions. Even the strongest man struggles in such moments.

In Jason's eyes, his grandfather was strong, cruel, and cold, seemingly affectionate only toward his deceased son. Everyone else, including Jason himself, felt like pawns. Master Reed viewed him solely as the future head of the Reed family, not as his grandson. There was no genuine grandfather-grandson bond.

Two hours later, the emergency room door opened. "We've saved him," the doctor told Jason, "but Master Reed is old and has undergone several previous operations. His lifespan is uncertain—perhaps a few years, perhaps only a few months."

Jason understood. Money couldn't control birth, aging, illness, or death. Master Reed was transferred to the intensive care unit for post-operative observation.

Two days later, Master Reed was moved out of ICU, and Jason finally saw him face-to-face.

"I heard you waited outside the emergency room," Master Reed said, his voice unusually weak and laced with helplessness.

"Yes," Jason replied curtly.

"It must have been difficult for you to wait for an old man like me," Master Reed remarked.

Jason looked at him intently. "Grandfather, you sent word that you wanted to see me. You're not just saying these things, are you?"

Master Reed took a drink of water, assisted by a nurse, then dismissed the other patients before speaking again. "I've investigated Grace. She's unsuitable. Choose a high-born lady from Emerald City."

"It's not your decision who suits me, Grandfather. It's mine," Jason retorted.

A tense silence hung between grandfather and grandson. After a while, Master Reed coughed, sighed, and admitted to himself that his grandson's development had surpassed his expectations. The beast had matured; he could no longer control it.

"Do you think she suits you?" Master Reed asked.

"Does it matter?" Jason countered.

Master Reed's face paled. "Then tell me honestly, do you love her?" His old eyes fixed on Jason, searching for any flicker of emotion.

Jason met his gaze. He would have said no before. From a young age, he'd associated love with pain, and avoided it.

Now… the words wouldn't come easily. Unconsciously, that woman was becoming increasingly important to him. Even after her rejection, he continued to engage with her, reluctant to let go.

"I don't know," Jason finally replied. He knew his grandfather disapproved of him loving any woman; to him, they were merely vessels to continue the Reed family line.