A Replacement Bride

Although Jennifer's mind was conscious, her body was not. So, she only managed to tilt her head and

watch on with worry. After that, she instructed Donald weakly, "Go… Go get some herbs and boil them

with ginger. Make Kathy drink it once she's awake."

Donald hesitated, but she immediately urged with great difficulty, "Why are you still standing there?

Go!"

Hence, he had to do as told, even if he was reluctant to do so, leaving only three people in the room.

Suddenly, she slowly raised her arm with great effort and pulled out all the silver needles. Even though

Joaquin had his full attention on Katherine, he caught sight of her actions through his peripheral view.

He was startled by her daring and immediately jerked up to his feet to stop her, "Grandma—"

But before he could say anything, she shook her head sadly. "It's useless."

Her words made him stop in his tracks, and he was at a loss for words.

Finally, she took a glance at Katherine, raised her eyes to him, and turned her attention to him before

patting the bedside, saying softly, "Joaquin, sit here. I have something to tell you."

Joaquin pursed his lips but did as she requested. Then, Jennifer let out a weary sigh.

"Even if Kathy uses this skill, these old bones of mine won't be able to handle it. It's time for me to go,

but this lass is as stubborn as a mule and insists on wasting her efforts."

"Kathy is—"

Naturally, she noticed the unabashed concern he had on his face, so she reassured him, "She's fine.

She had just used up a lot of energy to save her granduncle. It's just that the energy flow in her body is

not enough to sustain her after saving him and then me in such quick succession. Although her current

condition isn't the best, she will be fine after some rest."

After he heard that, Joaquin's stern face only eased up a little, but when he gazed at Jennifer's current

condition, his face turned grim. "Grandma, you—"

She waved her hand to dismiss his words before she cut him off, "I know what you want to say. It's

useless, so don't waste your efforts. There are some things I would like to tell you while I still have the

time," she said, turning to Katherine with a heartbroken look in her eyes. "It looks like I can't make it

until this girl wakes up. It's been years since she last acted like a child. Since I know her so well, I don't

think I can handle it if she wakes up now. So, don't feel sorry that I'll be leaving before seeing her one

last time. In any case, this is a good thing. None of us will have to struggle to bid our goodbyes in this

life…"

"But Grandma, she'll still be sad once she wakes up. Please hold on for a little longer. For Kathy's

sake? You know her medical skills. You'll be able to live a long life once she has regained her

bearings."

It was rare for him to say such things, and it made her huff in amusement before she retorted with a

chuckle, "A long life? Oh my, since when did you brush up your coaxing skills, young man?" When he

went silent, she smiled and added, "I know that you feel sorry for Kathy and don't want me to go, but

can you consider my point of view? I've been wanting to meet that old man for a long time. He's been

waiting for me on the other side for so long. Don't you think it's about time for me to meet up with him?"

At the mention of this, she looked a little upset as Darren's image appeared in her mind. Meanwhile,

Joaquin's heart turned heavy at her confession, and his chest felt tight and uneasy.

"Actually, my body would have given up a long time ago. I wouldn't have held on until now if it weren't

for Kathy's unresolved issues. Fortunately, now she has you by her side, which sets me at ease.

Speaking of which, both of you share an incredible fate. As it turns out, you're the knot in her heart from

five years ago. But I'm gratified that she already sorted that out and Noah's biological father is found.

There's nothing I have to worry about since you are so good to Noah and Kathy. I'll entrust them both to

you from now on, and I know that you'll take good care of them. So, there's no need for me to leave

you any advice, but there's one thing I have to tell you before I go," she said solemnly, scanning around

the room before finally pointing at her bag. "Child, please get me my bag."

Joaquin quietly did as he was instructed with a heavy heart. She took the bag from him, whisked out a

notebook from inside, and passed it to him.

"My mother left this for me when she passed. Apart from that secret parchment scroll, there's also this

notebook, which records all sorts of secret practices of the Scott-Tutton Family. It's very important, and

I've been keeping it with me this whole time instead of passing it to Kathy because it will bring her a

whole lot of trouble. I have a hunch that you also know that people have hunted me, and it's all

because of this. Both the Moran and the Scott-Tutton Families want it, and they would resort to any

means to get their greedy little paws on it. That's why I've never passed it to Kathy all these years, as

I'm afraid that it would land her in peril, but…" she trailed off and paused. Then, she wheezed a few

times and sighed. "Now, I have no other choice but to give it to her. This is a legacy from the Scott-

Tutton Family and my only legacy for Kathy. Pass this to her once she's awake and tell her that it's my

wish for her to guard it well. Also, warn her to beware of the Moran and the Scott-Tutton Families!"