Chapter 190
Chapter 190:
Alden’s fingers closed firmly around the ring, his eyes fixed on Helena’s. “Helena, you’re just as unwilling to end things between us as I am p>
The conviction in his voice struck Helena like a blow, stirring up the ache she had tried to bury.
“Yes, I am,” she said, her voice trembling. She blinked hard, fighting the sting in her eyes. “But what about you? You lied to me over and over. And even after you revealed the truth to the public, when I came home, hoping you’d explain everything, you didn’t show up p>
“It’s not that I chose to stay away! You saw the chaos yourself—that swarm of reporters p>
His excuse was cut short by Helena’s sharp laugh. “Reporters? Fine. Maybe they slowed you down. But they didn’t delay you for hours, Alden. You stayed away because you chose to p>
Before Alden could defend himself, the living room was suddenly bathed in light.
Helena flinched and turned around, startled to see someone standing at the switch. It was Frida.
Caught off guard, Helena froze, unsure of how much the older woman had overheard. For a few seconds, she couldn’t even find the words to greet her. Though it had only been a few days since they last met, Frida’s appearance had changed—she seemed weaker now.
She looked between the two of them, her voice rough with emotion as she said, “Den, what’s going on here? Did something happen between you two p>
“Grandma, it’s nothing serious. You should be resting p>
Alden stepped toward her, reaching out for her arm, but she gently brushed him aside. Instead, she walked over to Helena, her steps slow but purposeful.
“Helena, why are there tears on your face? Did Den make you cry? Don’t worry —I’ll set him straight p>
With a feeble but earnest motion, she swatted Alden’s arm a few times.
Then she turned back to Helena with a warm smile and gently wiped her tears. “There. I punished him. No more tears now, alright p>
Her words, along with the innocence in her expression, carried the simplicity of a child, as though her mind had drifted backward in time.
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Concerned, Helena glanced toward Alden, silently asking for an explanation. Looking away, Alden lowered his gaze. “Grandma… she’s got Alzheimer’s p>
That revelation left Helena stunned.
Alden let out a weary sigh. “It actually started more than a year ago. She kept it hidden from me, said she didn’t want me to worry. The night you left… when she found out Rylan had been seriously hurt, she fainted. When she came to, she wasn’t the same p>
Concerned that Chadwick’s remaining followers might harm Frida, the moment she was cleared to leave the hospital, he brought her here to keep her far from danger.
Hearing the truth settled something deep in Helena. She glanced at Frida, her expression softening with a mix of sympathy and guilt.
At last, everything clicked—why Alden hadn’t come home that night.
Frida’s brow knitted in confusion. Then, as if panic had crept up on her, she clutched Alden’s hand and asked in a trembling voice, “Den, did you and Helena argue because of my illness? Am I causing trouble again p>
“No, Frida, of course not!” Helena’s chest tightened at the question. Before Alden could get a word in, she quickly stepped in to soothe Frida. “There was no argument between Alden and me. We’re doing just fine. And you’re simply a little worn out, not ill. How about I stay with you tonight? Once you’ve had a good night’s sleep, you’ll feel so much better in the morning p>
Frida’s face brightened as she leaned on Helena and let herself be led to her room.
After a stretch of silence, the haze in Frida’s eyes lifted, and the familiar edge crept back into her voice. “Helena, I’ve known all along about what Den kept from you. I’m sorry—I was part of it, keeping that truth hidden from you p>
Helena clenched her fingers, not knowing what to say.
Frida let out a heavy sigh, her voice thick with sorrow. “Den lost his hearing when he was just a child, and he went through so much pain trying to recover. And all of it—every last bit—was because of my own cruel son p>
As she recalled the tragedies within her family, tears spilled freely down her face.
While her mind was still clear, she took Helena’s hand and held it tightly, her plea raw and sincere. “Helena, when Den came back to the country, he had every chance to deal with Chadwick and Rylan right away. But I couldn’t let him do it. I kept holding out hope that they’d change. That softness of mine forced Den to p>
“Endure hardship after hardship, and it stopped him from being truthful with you from the beginning. I know Den failed you, but he never intended to. If you need someone to blame, then let it be me.” Her tears flowed more freely as she continued, “Den’s spent so many years all alone. Please, can you stay with him from now on p>