Chapter 348: Chapter 347: Meeting at the Birthday Banquet 2
Having promised Grandpa she wouldn’t get a divorce, only to do so anyway, Annabelle Linton felt quite guilty.
But she didn’t regret it. The divorce had been necessary.
Burdened by guilt, she had secretly visited Grandpa in the hospital once before. He was in very poor shape.
He could only manage a few bites of food before losing his appetite and spent his days on an IV drip. His already frail frame had grown even thinner. It was a heart-wrenching sight.
A wave of sorrow washed over Annabelle Linton. "Grandpa, please don’t think like that," she said sadly. "You’re going to live to be a hundred."
"Haha, well, I’ll hold you to that, Annabelle."
Patrick Grant clearly didn’t want to dwell on the subject, so he changed it. "Annabelle, my dear, today is my seventieth birthday. I know you and Leona are divorced, but that doesn’t matter. Will you come to my birthday banquet?"
Annabelle Linton pressed her lips together, not answering right away.
She remembered his seventieth birthday was being held at the old family estate—a lavish, bustling affair with many guests.
In that case, Leona Grant would surely be there too.
She didn’t want to see him.
When Annabelle Linton didn’t reply, Patrick Grant knew why.
He coughed a few times, his voice tinged with sadness. "Annabelle, I watched you grow up. I’ve always thought of you less as my granddaughter-in-law and more as a true granddaughter, just like Ashley. I really miss you. I’m seventy years old now, and my health is getting worse by the day. I don’t know when I’ll breathe my last... Can you really not come and see me?"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Annabelle Linton’s eyes.
She really wanted to refuse.
A clean break should be just that—clean. Since they all had new lives now, there was no need for these lingering attachments.
Besides, given her relationship with Aaron Wyatt, it was inappropriate to keep in touch with her ex-husband’s family.
But hearing the sadness in Grandpa’s voice and his wrenching coughs, she couldn’t bring herself to say no.
Annabelle Linton fell silent for a moment. After a brief internal struggle, she made her decision.
’Forget it.’
’If I run into Leona Grant, so be it. We live in the same city; it’s bound to happen eventually.’
’Besides, it’s not like I did anything to wrong him. Why should I hide?’
Annabelle Linton smiled and said softly, "I’ll be over in a little while."
Patrick Grant was delighted. He happily agreed and asked when she would be there. Annabelle told him it wouldn’t be long.
Patrick Grant was overjoyed.
After hanging up, she called Aaron Wyatt to let him know.
Even though she had already made up her mind, she felt it was necessary to tell him.
They were a couple; they had an obligation to inform each other of their whereabouts.
Annabelle Linton called several times, but Aaron Wyatt didn’t answer. He was probably in a meeting.
She glanced at the clock. The birthday banquet would be starting soon. Since she had promised Grandpa, she couldn’t be late.
In the end, she left a note for Aaron Wyatt, changed her clothes, put on makeup, and headed to the old estate.
The old estate was massive, built like an aristocratic castle.
When Annabelle Linton arrived, a long line of luxury cars was already parked in front of the sprawling mansion.
The grand, European-style doors were open. A deep-red velvet carpet stretched from the garden entrance all the way to the steps of the main hall, and a massive, suspended crystal chandelier cast a dazzling, brilliant light.
It felt like a celebrity meet-and-greet, only far more magnificent.
The Grant Family was, after all, the most prominent family in Lynton.
Annabelle Linton stepped out of the car wearing a pearly-white gown and four-inch silver heels. She walked slowly along the carpet, drawing many admiring glances.
Her thick, voluminous waves cascaded over her shoulders, and her exquisitely made-up face was breathtakingly beautiful.
A look of stunned admiration shone in everyone’s eyes.
