Chapter 312


    Roxanne was trying to muster words offort for Vincent, but her voice failed her repeatedly, choked


    sobs keeping her silent. She looked deathly pale, and seeing her distress, Vincent himself, trembling,


    stood tofort her instead.


    "Roxanne, try not to worry so much," he said, his voice firm with a conviction he didn''t feel. "Harrison''s


    weathered many a storm; the chap''s tough as old boots. He''ll pull through this one, you''ll see."


    It was as if he was the anchor in a raging sea.


    But in truth, his heart was being sliced to ribbons.


    Roxanne noticed the weary slump in his usually rigid posture and knew he was putting on a brave front.


    She had to be strong too. She nodded vigorously.


    "Vincent, you''re right. Harrison''s seen his share of rough waters; he''ll survive this one."


    The empty reassurance left her feeling drained, and she blinked back tears.


    Before she could say more, Vincent clutched his chest, hisplexion turning deathly pale.


    "Vincent." Roxanne rushed to support him, "Vincent, are you alright, Vincent."


    Alexander, Dominic, and a few bodyguards immediately gathered around to help the fainting Vincent.


    At the hospital, Roxanne sat vigil by Vincent''s bed.


    He was not in mortal danger; his copse was due to overwhelming grief.


    Yet, Roxanne worried for the old man.


    Reflecting on his life, she realized how hard his lot had been.


    Midlife had stolen his wife.


    Now, was he to lose his son in his twilight years? Was he to be the grieving father who outlived his


    child?


    The thought choked her, and tears flowed like an unstoppable faucet – she wept unabashedly, all


    pretense ofposure gone.


    She looked at Vincent, still unconscious, and dreaded the possibility of Harrison not returning.


    The thought was unbearable.


    She wiped away tears and snot time and again.


    Alexander entered, catching her in the midst of her sorrow.


    He couldn''t help but feelpassion.


    Seeing Vincent still unconscious, Alexander felt helpless.


    He stepped behind Roxanne, gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and handed her a tissue.


    Only when she saw the tissue did Roxanne notice Alexander behind her. She had never cried like this


    in front of people. Embarrassed at being seen in such a state, Seeing Alexander, she hurriedly brushed


    the messy hair in front of her forehead that was wet with tears.


    Choking back sobs, she asked, "Any word from the airline?"


    He blinked back his own disappointment, "No. Presumed crashed. They can''t locate the exact position


    where the ne went down."


    Roxanne sighed heavily, her gaze drifting to the window where the sky was darkening.


    Night had crept in silently.


    The autumn night was thick and ck, without stars, the moon obscured by heavy clouds - mirroring


    the gloom she couldn''t shake.


    Just a week ago, she, Ang, and Harrison had been taking a family photo.


    The photo!


    She instinctively pulled out her phone, thest photo of her, Ang, and Harrison saved in her gallery.


    Opening it, tears sshed onto the screen, blurring Roxanne''s face.


    She hurriedly wiped it, murmuring, "I should''ve hugged him before he boarded."


    She had wanted to hug him so badly.


    Was it jealousy of his talents that had put him on that ill-fated flight?


    She regretted holding onto the hatred all these years, iming forgiveness but never truly letting go.


    And now, what was left of that vibrant man was just an image in a photo.


    Her sobs were heart-wrenching as she cried uncontrobly.


    Alexander handed her more tissues, and she tried topose herself.


    "Roxanne, what''s your n now?" Alexander asked gravely.


    She shook her head, lost and deted. "I don''t know. Let''s wait for Vincent to wake up. I''m worried


    about the shock to him. Ang and I will move in with him for a while."


    Ang, Vincent''s granddaughter, was the dearest to him.


    With Harrison gone, Roxanne and Ang would look after Vincent.


    Material wealth was nevercking in Vincent''s life, but what he truly needed was thepany of family.


    With Harrison''s absence, the blow was severe, and it was uncertain if Vincent could withstand it.


    Alexander nced at Vincent on the bed, "The doctor said once he wakes up, he can go home. But we


    have to watch his mood. I''ll help you move thingster. If you and Ang stay with him, I''ll have peace


    of mind."


    Roxanne nodded.


    Ang, still in kindergarten, was picked up by Chloe.


    Aria and Austin were with her, but as bedtime approached, Ang kept asking for her mother.


    "Auntie Chloe, why hasn''t mommye to pick me up yet?"


    Chloe stroked Ang''s hair, feeling a lump in her throat.


    Such a darling little girl would now grow up without a father.


    Chloe knew all too well the plight of fatherless children; after her divorce from Oliver, he never once


    visited their two kids.


    They seemed so well-behaved and mature, but they were iplete without their father.


    And now, Ang would have to face life without hers.


    Oh, what a tragedy!


    Chloe was well aware that despite Roxanne and Harrison''s breakup, Roxanne''s heart still clung to the


    love she had for him.


    The tragedy that befell Harrison meant that Roxanne’s heart was bound to wither away too.


    The thought alone choked Chloe up.


    Her best friend, her beloved Roxanne – of course, Chloe wished for nothing more than a reconciliation


    between her and Harrison, a chance for them to piece back the broken mirror of their rtionship.


    But life had other ns.


    In front of Ang, however, Chloe maintained herposure.


    Kids are sharp as tacks, catching even the slightest emotional shift in adults, leading to their own sense


    of unease.


    To divert Ang’s attention, Chloe, along with Aria and Austin, spent some time ying games with


    her.


    They yed the more physically demanding games.


    Like "Duck, Duck, Goose" and "What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?"


    With games to distract her, Ang stopped asking for her mom.


    After they yed themselves to exhaustion, Chloe gave Ang a bath, tucked her into bed, and before


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    long, Ang was fast asleep.


    Once the little munchkin was off to dreand, Chloe snapped a picture of her angelic sleeping face


    and sent it to Roxanne.


    "Anne, Ang''s asleep. Fiona and I are here for her, so don''t worry. How''s Vincent doing? Has he


    Roxanne opened the picture of Ang sleeping, and the emotions she had kept at bay crumbled in an


    instant.


    Ever since the fall outing, Ang had started to warm up to her dad even more.


    Just as their rtionship had begun to blossom, as they were on the cusp of spending more quality


    time together, fate had cruelly intervened.