Chapter 550: I Want Your Heart

Oriana found solace in the tales of the past woven by her grandfather, oblivious to the passage of time until the sun stood high above them, casting its midday glow. "Grandpa, it's time for you to rest," she gently suggested.

Philip, weary but content, nodded in agreement. For so long, he had guarded his past and family secrets, shielding Oriana from them. Yet today, after years of silence, he found himself pouring out his memories, reliving moments long buried in the recesses of his mind. The joy of sharing his stories with Oriana warmed his soul, transporting him back to a time before the weight of mortality bore down upon him.

With Oriana's help, Philip settled into bed, slipping into sleep with ease, his frailty evident despite the medication meant to prolong his fleeting vitality. Oriana, her concern etched upon her features, checked his pulse, her heart heavy with the looming inevitability of his departure.