Cornelia wasn't a dunce, she knew Grandpa Augustine was trying to make up for her grandmother's absence, "Grandpa Augustine, you don't owe me anything. You don't have to treat me this way."
Grandpa Augustine reached out to take Cornelia's hand, and chuckled awkwardly, "I know, but it's only right for a grandpa to pamper his granddaughter, right?"
Cornelia saw the careful caution in Grandpa Augustine's eyes, as well as his sense of loss. Imagining his past pain, she couldn't help but felt a pang in her heart, "Grandpa."
Grandpa Augustine looked at Cornelia with surprise, "Nelly, did you just call me..."
He must be overthinking it.
Cornelia took the initiative to hug Grandpa Augustine's arm, "Grandpa!"
Grandpa Augustine was old, and his condition had worsened due to years of guilt and longing. He looked at least ten years older than his actual age, much older than his brother. To the uninformed, they might mistake him for his brother.
Having lost so many loved ones, Cornelia knew the importance of cherishing the people in front of her. She didn't want to wait until it was too late to regret. So, she wanted to get along well with Grandpa Augustine and let him enjoy the warmth of family in his limited time.
Grandpa Augustine looked at Cornelia, his eyes twinkling, "Nelly, can you call me grandpa again?"
Cornelia, "Grandpa, Grandpa."
One after another, the crisp and pleasant calls of "Grandpa" filled Grandpa Augustine's heart with satisfaction, "I heard it."
Cornelia added, "Grandpa, I have a sister too."
Grandpa Augustine patted Cornelia's head, "I know. I'll handle her situation, let's go have breakfast now. Brian and his brothers will be here soon."
Before deciding to acknowledge Cornelia as his granddaughter, Grandpa Augustine had a basic understanding of the people around Cornelia. He knew she had two good friends, they grew up together, went to college together, and started a business in Riverton together. Their relationship was very close.
He also knew through Marcus that she met Hannah and Rosie, and also knew that she had recently recognized a sister. But because he didn't investigate in depth, he wasn't sure if Cornelia's sister was a child of the Stewart family, and thus wasn't sure if she was his biological granddaughter.
If she was, even if the child wasn't raised by Silvia personally, he would still consider her his own granddaughter.
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