After these days of recovery, Mrs. Russell gradually regained her health. Her complexion had beco much better, and she no longer muttered nonsense unconsciously.
Resting with her eyes closed, Mrs. Russell was startled by the sound of the door opening. She opened her eyes, her gray, cloudy gaze turning toward the doorway.
After entering the room, Yago looked at Mrs. Russell—her head full of white hair and her face lined with wrinkles—and for a mont, he didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then awkwardly forced out a dry sentence.
"Grandma? Are you feeling better?"
Mrs. Russell didn't respond. Her unfocused eyes simply stared at Yago, making his skin crawl a little. Still, Yago clenched the photo in his hand. Thinking of his purpose, he braced himself and pulled over a chair to sit beside her.
Just as Yago was wondering how to bring up the person in the photo, Mrs. Russell suddenly spoke.
"Loya? Neuman's child. Your father, Neuman… he always made worry back then. Silent all day like a closed gourd, never speaking, nothing like his older brother's cheerful nature. But I knew… his dislike for his brother Norman was just an act. In truth, he admired his brother very much—he just refused to admit it…"
Mrs. Russell rambled on with these scattered words, sounding like an elder nagging her junior. Yet Yago still picked out the information he needed from her words.
Growing a bit impatient, Yago interrupted her.
"Wait… can you tell about Norman's story? Uh… Grandma?"
Mrs. Russell froze for a mont after being interrupted. Then, hearing Yago's request, a hint of surprise appeared on her face. Those unfocused pupils seed, by coincidence, to align directly with Yago.
For a split second, Yago felt as if he was being watched.
But Mrs. Russell was blind… could it be a gaze from the soul?
Yago's thoughts wandered wildly, but Mrs. Russell turned her head away. Her vacant eyes faced the ceiling, as if she was gathering her thoughts.
Finally, under Yago's gaze, she slowly began to speak, telling the story of a noble boy's growth.
"Thirty-eight years ago, I lost my husband… and the Russell family lost its pillar. Because of his failed investnts before his death, the family was burdened with enormous debt. All those relatives and friends we once associated with… almost overnight, we lost contact with every single one of them. Such is the way of the world—people chase wealth and abandon the poor.
To repay the debts, I sold nearly all of our properties, leaving only this manor behind. During that ti, I was utterly exhausted, both ntally and physically. I even thought of leaving this heartbreaking world.
But perhaps heaven pitied . Though I lost my husband, the arrival of two little angels comforted my soul—Norman and Neuman, my two children. They were like gifts from heaven. With them, I found the courage to keep living.
Norman and Neuman grew up so quickly. It feels like just yesterday they were reaching out their arms asking to be held, and today they were already wearing little suits and going to school.
Norman was the child who brought the most comfort. From a young age, he was incredibly well-behaved. Who would believe that at just five years old, Norman would comfort his mother? He even learned to bake cakes just to make happy. Even though the cake was completely burnt and black, I still felt it was the most delicious cake in the world.
Neuman wasn't as smart or sensible as his older brother, but he admired him deeply. He followed behind Norman like a little tail every day… at least until they turned ten.
I could hardly believe that at only ten years old, Norman had the courage to approach Count Duko to discuss business. Even his father, when he was alive, wouldn't dare lift his head in front of Count Duko. But Norman did it. He surpassed his father. At just ten, he was publicly acknowledged by Count Duko as his godson.
It seed that the Russell family would rise again in Norman's hands. Thanks to Count Duko's favor, Norman also beca friends with that child from the Louis family. I rember he was a shy child—so shy he could barely speak when eting others. Norman even ntioned that he had been bullied by other children at school…"
Hearing this, Yago's heart skipped a beat.
The Louis family? Ebson?
He lowered his head to look at the photo in his hand. The young Ebson was smiling at the cara.
Mrs. Russell continued.
"But after becoming friends with Louis, Neuman suddenly began to distance himself from his brother. I don't know what happened to that child… he started criticizing his brother, saying Norman was always idle, that as the eldest son of the Russell family, he didn't take responsibility.
Neuman said the family title should be inherited by him, and that his brother Norman could just live as a good-for-nothing. Later, I realized… perhaps this was his way of venting his dissatisfaction toward his brother.
Indeed, at that ti, Norman was becoming more and more outstanding, and gradually drifted away from Neuman. Being overshadowed by his brother's brilliance, it was only natural for Neuman to feel resentful.
Gradually, Norman grew into a handso young man. Every day, I could see many girls outside the manor who were interested in him. And Norman did not disappoint . His academic performance was so outstanding that principals from universities across the capital personally ca to our ho to invite him to study at their schools.
I did not interfere with Norman's choice. I believed this child would make his own decision. As a mother, all I needed to do was support him.
But Norman did not choose to inherit the title and attend a noble academy to enter the military, nor did he follow Count Duko's advice to study business. Instead, he chose to go to the scientific institute with young Louis.
That period beca the hardest ti for . Neuman did not accept his brother's goodwill—instead, he beca extrely angry. It was as if the title his brother handed to him was so kind of pity or charity. The relationship between the two brothers completely broke down.
As for Norman… it seed he and young Louis had discovered sothing. They spent entire days together. I often heard him excitedly talking about things like changing the world, changing humanity—things I couldn't understand at all. I didn't know how my child intended to change the world. I only wished for him to be safe and sound.
Neuman was just as outstanding. After inheriting the title, he joined the military. Just like his brother, he surpassed his father. He earned achievents on the battlefield, rising from his father's rank of Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel.
Originally, I thought life would continue like this peacefully. I believed I would one day see both my children grow up, start families, and build their futures…
But then, the bad news ca."
User Comments
0 comments from readers