True Fated Marriage (Grace and Heinz)
Chapter 1542

"Why are you looking at me that way?" Gary could not help the frown that crossed his face when he saw her expression. It was a mixture of bleak disappointment and annoyance. He scoffed, "Did I hit the nail on the head?"

Celeste took a deep breath. Her voice was frosty when she replied, "I thought you changed. But it seems not, after all."

Gary's face scrunched up in a frown once more, "Did I let you down?"

"Yes, extremely so," Celeste said tepidly, "I don't want to talk anymore. Please shut up."

"Celeste, just admit it. You and I are the same. We aren't the likeable type," Gary smiled. After saying that, he kept quiet.

The two of them ate in silence.

Gary had barely taken two more bites of his food before his phone rang out of the blue. He glanced at the caller ID, and the look on his face became serious. He immediately picked up the call.

For his mother to call him at such a moment caught Gary by surprise. Something must have happened. Otherwise, she would not have called.

He began by asking, "Mom, is there an emergency?"

"Gary," Grace's tone carried an undercurrent of fatigue, as if she was exhausted.

"What's wrong?" Gary's face turned to stone when he heard her voice, "Did something happen back at home?"

"First, calm down," instructed Grace.

"What happened?" Gary's heart skipped a beat. A feeling of dread settled into the pit of his stomach. Grace replied, "It's your grandfather. He passed away."

"What?" Startled, Gary asked, "When?"

"A little while ago," Grace clarified, "About an hour ago."

Gary had not shaken off his shock yet and could only mutter, "Why so suddenly? Wasn't he always in good health?"

"He has been in poor health for quite some time," Grace explained, "For a few years now, he's been living an unhappy life."

"What's there for him to be unhappy about?" Gary's question, although in a lukewarm tone, was clearly sarcastic, "What's so bad about being a man who only cares about himself?" "Gary, he's your grandfather. You should respect the dead," Grace reminded him, "Whatever it is, don't say such unpleasant things about him anymore."

Silence descended for a moment. Gary furrowed his brows. He was no longer as merry as he was before.

Celeste was still unsure of what was going on as she was only listening to one side of the conversation.

She knew that Grace was calling, so something must have happened back home. She inadvertently felt worried. Even after she heard Gary's mocking insults, she did not know who he was referring to. "Gary, you're his grandson. You and Ernest should both come back for the funeral," Grace urged, "I called Lowell and he will be returning too. You're in London, right? You and your younger brother should catch a flight home together. Be good."

Gary thought it over in silence for a heartbeat. Then, he said, "Mom, I don't want to attend his funeral, but I'll return home if you really want me to."

Grace sighed to herself. Her son was still considerate of her, after all.

"Come back, Gary," Grace added, "In any case, the dead must be respected. You're related by blood and he is gone from this world. All grudges you have against him should be buried." "Alright, I'll book a ticket and return with Ernest," Gary agreed.

"Take care," Grace continued, "I'm going to see your dad. He has suffered quite a shock from this."

Gary did not reply. He was thinking to himself that his grandfather was Heinz's biological father after all. Heinz would naturally feel a sense of loss for his own father.

After Gary hung up, his grave expression rattled Celeste. She asked, "What's wrong?"

She had vaguely heard that someone had passed away. It came as a shock to her when Gary said he did not want to attend the funeral.

There were times where his stubbornness really made matters impossible to navigate.

Gary raised his head to look her in the eye. His joking demeanor previously was gone, replaced with picture-perfect calmness as he revealed, "My grandfather passed away. Ernest and I are going back home to attend his funeral."

Celeste was thrown for a loop, "That's sudden."

She did not understand the intricacies of the Jones family too well, but Lowell's identity spoke volumes of the complications that the family had.

Peering at Gary's somber countenance, she was worried sick.

In light of everything, she kept her bad mood to herself.

No matter how bad their relationship was, a relative's death was still a cause for mourning.

"Do you want to go with me?" Gary gazed at Celeste as he asked.

Celeste was taken aback. She thought to herself that it would definitely complicate matters for her to go there. Hence, she shook her head and said, "I'm not going."

Grace had not asked her to go. If she went back, it would only make matters more awkward and complicated.

Gary gave Celeste a deep look. Perhaps it was because of his grandfather's death that his emotions were at an all-time low. He had lost all interest in teasing her. Nonetheless, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

He actually really wanted Celeste to go back with him.

But she had refused.

He did not force her. All he said was, "Come on, let's go. I'll send you to work after we finish eating. I'll go back after that."

He called Ernest as he ate, and Ernest booked the tickets.

After he sent Celeste to the company, Gary drove to his home in London and left by plane the next morning with Ernest.

That afternoon, after work,

Celeste quickly returned to her London residence. Maria was there as well.

The moment they met, Maria eyed Celeste and asked, "Didn't you go back with Gary?"

"No," Celeste shook her head.

Maria nodded, understanding Celeste's concerns, "Did he ask you to?"

"He did, but I thought that it would be awkward," replied Celeste, "I couldn't go along in good conscience."

"He asked you to accompany him. It shows that he cares about you very much," Maria said in a gentle tone, "He's probably very disheartened at your refusal."

Celeste was stunned.

"No wonder he was stony- faced when he left," Maria mused. She added, "All along, it was because you rejected his offer."

"Do you think I should have gone?" Celeste looked at Maria, startled.

Maria said, "Celeste, you might not like what I'm going to say. Given your current situation, there is ample reason for you not to go. However, you've been adopted by the Jones family. You have had their name for years. Even if you had a complicated relationship with Gary and you guys broke up, you're still their adoptive daughter. Isn't it rude if you don't go to Old Master Jones' funeral?"

Celeste was dazed upon hearing Maria's explanation. She pursed her lips and nodded heavily, "Right. Your words made me realize that I'm really too heartless."

"Forget it, don't blame yourself anymore. They should be arriving soon," Maria sighed and turned to go upstairs.

Celeste looked at her retreating back. A deep sense of regret welled up from the bottom of her heart. "Maria," She called out.

"Yes?" Maria stopped and turned to look at her, "What's wrong?"

"Maria, do you think that I am ignorant and ungrateful?"

"No, I just think that you value your own feelings more than anyone else," Maria looked at her and continued, "Do you know how egoistic Gary is? He has been an arrogant person ever since he was a kid. When I saw him so haggard today, I was really shocked. Celeste, if it were Liam, I wouldn't bear to put him through such torture at all."

Taken aback, Celeste backpedaled and nearly lost her balance.

"I went a little overboard. I'm sorry," Maria took a deep breath. "I might as well say it all right now. Over the years, I've never said a single harsh word to you. But this time, I think you've really crossed the line." Celeste pursed her lips.

Maria continued, "Although I don't know what happened between you and Gary, he came chasing after you. I think it's more than enough to show that he loves you. Why are you still resisting him?" Celeste did not say anything. She just stood there in a daze.

Maria looked at her pale face and went on, "I've asked Lowell about Janice. The both of them were in the wrong, but it was not all that bad. If you really don't like Gary, then stop being so close to him and torture him like this. Why bother?"

With that, Maria went upstairs.

Celeste couldn't utter a single word in reply.

On that day, Gary and Maria's words weighed on Celeste's conscience like a thousand pounds. Celeste thought to herself that they were right.

It was all her fault.

She really did not know what to do.

She took a deep breath, fished out her phone and dialed an airline company's number. She said, "I want to book a ticket."

With that, she changed her clothes, packed some other outfits and asked the butler to send her to the airport.

At home, Maria and Liam were on a video call. Maria confessed, "I was a villain today."

"What happened?" Liam asked.

"I was very harsh to Celeste," Maria lowered her head as she sighed, "I really couldn't stand her and Gary acting that way, so I gave her an earful."

Liam frowned, "Why must you meddle in other people's business?"