บท 68: Grandpa's Story

9 PM, after dinner.

"You have the finest collection Alexander, I'm really impressed by your taste," George said as he checked out Alexander's huge garage.

"I have my most prized possession in the other garage. Do you want to check it out Grandpa?" Alexander asked.

"Of course!" Grandpa George answered.

Alexander and George went straight to Alexander's other garage. It's not as big as the main garage, this garage can only fit one car. His most precious car.

"I hope you won't be too shocked Grandpa," Alexander smiled as he pressed the open button of his automated garage.

As soon as they entered, Alexander walked to the back of his car and pulled some strings.

"Ready?" Alexander asked George.

"Bring it on young man," George responded.

Alexander pulled the car cover and George's jaw immediately dropped.

"You bastard!" George exclaimed, "I always wondered who stole this 1955 Jaguar D-type XKD from me on the auction!" he added. He ran his hands on the hood of the car as his eyes were mesmerized by the beauty of it.

One of the most stunningly beautiful cars in the world was the formidable 1955 Jaguar D-Type XKD 501 racecar that was roofless and colored in traditional Scottish blue with a huge number 4 on its hood.

The Jaguar D-Type XKD 501 was produced by Jaguar Cars Ltd. between 1954 and 1957. It was used by the Scottish team Ecurie Ecosse in the year 1956 and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Later on in 2016, the Le Mans winning car was put to auction and Alexander bought it for a jaw dropping price of $21.78 million making it one of the 'Most Expensive Classic Cars Ever Sold at Auction'.

"You know, I really wanted this car," George said.

Alexander chuckled, "I'm sorry Grandpa, I had to buy it," he said.

Both of them checked out the specs of the car for one whole hour before they decided to chill in the balcony. Alexander grabbed 4 cans of beer from his refrigerator and sat opposite to George.

"Do you drink Grandpa?" Alexander asked as he placed the cans down.

"I'm not supposed to, but one sip won't hurt," George answered as he grabbed a can and popped it open. He took a sip from it and sighed, "Beer really tastes good in a cold weather like this," he said.

"I hope Grandma Ysabel won't kill me for letting you drink," Alexander said as he popped a can for himself.

"She won't if she doesn't know," George said which made the both of them chuckle. George suddenly faced Alexander, "Tell me Alex, what do you like about my granddaughter?" he asked.

Alexander took a sip before he answered, "I actually don't know Grandpa," he said, "I mean, I love everything about her. Every single thing," he added.

"You know, I remember myself from you when I was at your age," said George, "Young, youthful, and in love. It was one of the best times of my life."

"I still remember the time when I also asked Ysabel to marry me. It was the happiest day of my life, the day she said yes," George reminisced.

"I can see that you really love Grandma Ysabel," Alexander said.

"I do," George responded, "I'm really thankful that I have a partner like her to spend the rest of my life with. Despite the horrible things I have done to her, she never left me," he said.

"Horrible things?" Alexander asked curiously.

"You know Alexander, in a marriage, there will always be ups and downs. You can't avoid problems and challenges along the way," George said, "There was one time when Ysabel and I had a huge argument about something and she was blaming me for something that I didn't do. We were shouting and yelling at each other that time. Due to frustration, I walked out on her," he narrated.

"I wanted to vent out that time so I went to a bar and drank all my frustrations away. But I got really drunk that time. I didn't know what I was doing that night and just woke up naked beside a woman who I didn't know."

"That day I went home carrying the weight of guilt on my shoulders. I didn't know how to face Ysabel. I wanted to tell her, but I can't bear the thought of her leaving me. Javier was just born that time. I didn't want to lose both of them."

"I tried to live my life normally, hoping that everything will be just fine for me. But I was wrong," George stared at the can on his hands, "The mistake I made that night was bigger than I thought," he said.

Julian Walker suddenly popped on Alexander's mind. Was this the story he wanted to know about?

"One day, the woman I accidentally slept with came looking for me because she was sick. She was holding a 5-year old child in her arms and told me that he was our son. I couldn't believe it that time, it's like my world came crumbling down. As much as I want to escape the past, I can't neglect my own son," George sighed.

"Are you talking about Uncle Julian?" Alexander asked and George nodded.

"Julian is one good kid but Ysabel didn't like him. Maybe because he was the product of the mistake I made. She had mistreated him in many unforgivable ways but I just stood there, not doing anything to protect my son because I was scared of Ysabel leaving me."

"All my life, until now, I'm living the guilt of cheating on Ysabel and not being able to protect Julian from her. I loved Julian as my own son, but I loved Ysabel more. I'm just thankful that Javier was one understanding child and treated Julian as his own brother. I'm happy the he is finally living his life happily here in LA, making big time movies. The kid has suffered too much, even if I wanted to apologize to him, it's too late now," George took a sip from his beer and stared at the skies.

Alexander understood many things about Julian from George's story. He understood why Julian was doing all of these.

Revenge.

But the key to this Pandora box was still missing.

Alexander believes that there is still one main reason why Julian Walker wants Sabrina dead. It can't be just because he was mistreated.

There is still one heavy reason.