"Ah!" Lily gasped in shock.
Standing too close, her dress got sttered with blood, and the small bottle of whiskey she was
holding dropped to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Norbert scolded in a low voice, "What are you screaming for? Shut up!"
Lily covered her mouth, her face turning pale, not daring to make another sound.
The others were also visibly shaken, each of them too scared to utter a word.
Norbert, with blood at the corner of his mouth, looked at them seriously and said, "Since your
parents sent you back here, they must have informed you about my health. I''m not asking you to
leave, but there''s one thing: my health condition must not be disclosed to Wenna."
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks, unsure why.
Why keep it a secret from Morwenna? Was it because Morwenna had fallen out of favor?
Norbert did not provide a reason butmanded sternly, "Got it?"
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"Yes, yes."
"Alright, Grandpa, we won''t say a word."
Norbert had someone clean up all the traces of blood, leaving no sign that he had vomited blood.
At that moment, everyone present realized that the once formidable Norbert was now old, close to
death, so weak that he needed support to stand steadily.
After resting for a while outside, ensuring he appeared normal, Norbert started walking back, his
expression solemn.
What was he to do? He wouldn''tst much longer.
Would Wenna be able to handle the news?
Norbert kept it from Morwenna because he knew she would be the only one truly saddened by his
passing.
He didn''t want to cause her unnecessary grief, preferring to take each day as it came.
The younger members of the Hetfield family were all aware of Norbert''s frail health, yet their primary
concern was how to ingratiate themselves with him in his final days, even going so far as to offer
him drinks, hoping to curry favor and secure a share of the inheritance.
Even Stuart seemed unaffected.
To Stuart, death was a natural part of life. Norbert was nearing eighty, having lived a full life. Stuart
believed living into his sixties would be enough for him.
The world was so full of filth and malice, what was the point of lingering on?
Only Morwenna feared anything happening to Norbert.
After Melvin''s death, Norbert had always held the top spot in Morwenna''s heart.
She was fond of Stuart, but in her eyes, three Stuarts couldn''tpare to one Norbert.
However, as Norbert’s health declined, he found himself having to distance Morwenna.
It was as if Morwenna had indeed fallen out of favor.
After that day, Norbert''s schedule changed.
In the mornings, he would read with Ruby and Pearl.
Afternoons were spent in solitude.
He taught Lily manners in thete afternoon.
Evening walks were now apanied by Rose.
And the task of helping him with his nightly foot soak had been passed on to Ryan.
Norbert appeared to mellow down, turning into a kind and approachable grandpa, appreciating his
grandkids'' efforts to be good to him.
Only Morwenna would be told by Norbert to attend to her own matters whenever she came looking
for him.
To everyone at the estate, it appeared Morwenna had truly fallen out of favor.
Norbert had always been protective of Morwenna, a fact well-known to all.
Morwenna''s boldness in dering her affection for Stuart had been attributed to Norbert''s backing.
Now, with Morwenna out of favor, her standing in the Hetfield family seemed negligible.
The younger Hetfields were thrilled.
Even those previously chased out, like Phineas and Yara, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the
news.
In the end, Norbert hadn''t lost his rity, recognizing who truly belonged to the family.
Regardless of past dynamics, as long as they secured a portion of the inheritance after Norbert''s
passing, nothing else mattered.
Lately, Morwenna had been preupied with her thoughts.
In truth, the notion of falling out of favor didn''t bother her.