My Father's Wrath
For all these years, my father, Jason Pearson, has never given up searching for my grandfather's remains, dedicating decades of his heart and soul to the quest.
Just one month before my father's engagement banquet, the long-awaited good news finally arrived: my grandfather's remains had been found.
When I heard the news, I was in my overseas study apartment, organizing documents, and my father's voice on the other end trembled with emotion he could no longer suppress.
"Victoria, your grandfather... we've found him."
The hand holding the phone suddenly clenched tightly, and tears fell uncontrollably.
My father had told me my grandfather's story since I was a child.
My grandfather was a brave soldier who had rushed to the battlefield without hesitation—and never returned.
Over the years, my father often stared silently at my grandfather's only black-and-white photograph, whispering, "Dad, I will find you and bring you home."
Now, this long-held wish was finally on the verge of coming true.
"Dad, this is wonderful—truly wonderful." I said, my voice choking with emotion.
"Yes, it's wonderful." My father's voice trembled with emotion as well.
"However, there's one problem. The officials handling the transfer said the family must go overseas in person to receive the ashes."
I immediately understood my father's hesitation.
With his engagement banquet only a month away, and as head of the Pearson Family, there were many responsibilities he had to attend to personally—he simply couldn't leave.
"Dad, I'll go." I didn't hesitate for a moment. "I'll begin the return procedures immediately and promise to bring my grandfather's ashes back before your engagement banquet."
My father paused briefly, then his voice carried a sense of relief: "Victoria, thank you for your hard work."
"It's no trouble at all. Bringing my grandfather home is what I am meant to do."
After hanging up, I immediately started packing my bags.
My studies overseas could be put on hold for now; bringing my grandfather home was more important than anything else.
I completed the return procedures as swiftly as possible and booked the earliest flight to the overseas handover location.
After more than ten hours of flying, the airplane finally touched down at the overseas airport.
As I stepped out of the airport, the staff responsible for the handover was already waiting for me at the exit.
They were dressed in crisp uniforms, holding a black urn, their faces solemn.
The moment I saw that urn, my heart felt as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and my eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Hello, are you Victoria Pearson?" One of the staff members stepped forward and asked politely.
I nodded firmly. "Yes, I am. I am Victoria."
"These are the ashes of your grandfather, Victor Pearson. Please kindly confirm receipt." The staff carefully placed the urn into my hands.
I received the urn with both hands; though light, it felt heavier than a thousand pounds.
These are my grandfather's ashes—the ashes of the hero who sacrificed himself for our country.
"Thank you all. I truly appreciate your help." I bowed deeply to the staff.
"It is our duty. Heroes deserve every ounce of respect." The staff bowed in return.
After receiving my grandfather's ashes, I didn't linger—I hurried to the airport and booked a flight back home.
I had to return before my father's engagement banquet, so he could see my grandfather's ashes there, allowing the Pearson Family to celebrate double happiness.
On the flight home, I held the urn close to my chest, as if that could bring me nearer to my grandfather.
I whispered softly to the urn, "Grandfather, we're going home now, to our true home."
The airplane cut through the clouds, heading steadily toward our homeland.
Leaning against the window, I watched the blue sky and white clouds outside, my heart filled with anticipation.
I pictured my father's expression when he would see my grandfather's ashes, imagining the moment my grandfather could finally rest in his homeland.
After several hours of flight, the airplane finally touched down at the domestic airport.
Clutching the urn tightly, I hurried out of the airport; the driver my father had sent was already waiting for me outside.
"Miss, you've finally returned. Master has been waiting at home all this time." The driver accepted my luggage and spoke with respectful courtesy.
"Please drive a little faster. I want to deliver my grandfather's ashes to my father as soon as possible."
"Alright, miss."
The car moved steadily along the road. Seeing the familiar streets, a deep sense of belonging welled up inside me.
Before long, the car reached the Pearson Family villa.
Clutching the urn, I hurried into the villa.
My father sat on the living room sofa, a document in hand but unable to concentrate on it.
At the sound of footsteps, he looked up immediately. When he saw me entering with the urn, he quickly rose to his feet.
"Victoria, you're back. Your grandfather..." My father's eyes landed on the urn in my arms, his voice trembling once more.
I stepped up to my father and handed him the urn. "Dad, my grandfather is home. We've brought him back."
My father took the urn with both hands, holding it close to his chest as tears slipped down his cheeks.
"Dad, I've finally brought you home, finally..." My father choked, his body trembling slightly.
Watching my father like that, a bittersweet ache rose in my heart.
After all these years, my father has finally fulfilled a long-held wish.
"Dad, your engagement banquet is just a month away. By then, we can tell everyone that my grandfather has returned. Truly double happiness." I whispered softly to comfort him.
My father nodded, wiping away his tears. "Yes, double happiness. Victoria, you've worked so hard on this journey. Now go and rest."
"Alright, Dad, but don't get too emotional. Take care of yourself."
I turned and walked upstairs to my room.
Though the journey was tiring, my heart was filled with profound satisfaction.
Being able to bring my grandfather home made everything worthwhile.
Time passed quickly, and before long, my father's engagement banquet was upon us.
As a prominent local family, the Pearsons held my father's engagement banquet with great splendor.
The villa was adorned with lanterns and decorations, guests filled every corner, and joyful laughter echoed throughout.
My father wore a sharp, well-tailored suit, standing beside his fiancée, Felicity Franklin.
Felicity wore a red gown, her makeup flawless, and a composed smile graced her face—she looked gentle and elegant.
I held my grandfather's urn close, standing in the second-floor corridor, watching the lively scene unfolding downstairs.
My father had said earlier that once the engagement banquet was halfway through, we would share the news of my grandfather's return with everyone, so we could all partake in this joy together.
I glanced at the time, thought it was about right, and carefully made my way downstairs, holding the urn tightly.
There were many guests downstairs; I could only weave slowly through the crowd, moving toward my father.
Just as I was about to reach my father, someone suddenly bumped into me from the side.
I lost my balance, my body pitching forward, and the urn in my arms swayed with me.
Instinctively, I tried to steady myself but accidentally bumped into Felicity Franklin beside me.
With a sharp crash, the Jade Bracelet on Felicity's wrist fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense and silent, all eyes fixed on me.
My heart sank, and I quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Felicity; I didn't mean to. I'll replace it right away."
Felicity Franklin looked down at the jade bracelet shattered on the floor, her face immediately darkening. "Replace?"
"Do you know what this jade bracelet is? It's the Franklin Family's Ancestral Jade Bracelet—priceless. How do you expect to compensate for it?"
I was momentarily stunned, never realizing that this bracelet was so valuable.
But no matter what, I broke it through my own carelessness, so I have to take responsibility.
"Felicity, no matter how expensive this jade bracelet is, I will find a way to compensate you. Just name your price, and I will do my best." I said sincerely.
Felicity Franklin let out a bitter laugh. "Do your best?"
"You're just a student—how much money could you possibly have? Even if your father is wealthy, this is an heirloom of the Franklin Family—something money simply cannot measure."
The guests nearby began to murmur among themselves.
"Yes, the ancestral jade bracelet is incredibly precious; it's not something that can be casually compensated for."
"This girl was so careless—how could she make such a mistake on such an important occasion?"
"Felicity Franklin is quite unfortunate—the ancestral jade bracelet was shattered during her engagement banquet."
Hearing the murmurs around me, my face flushed one moment and paled the next.
Knowing I was at fault, I continued to apologize, "Felicity, I'm truly sorry."
"I know this Jade Bracelet is very important to you. I will do everything in my power to make up for your loss. Could you please give me one more chance?"
But Felicity was relentless: "A chance? I've already given you a chance. Can you restore the Jade Bracelet?"
"Victoria Pearson, I believe you did this on purpose. Are you trying to prevent me from getting engaged to your father by deliberately ruining the engagement banquet?"
Hearing this, I felt deeply wronged. "Felicity, how can you say such a thing?"
"How could I deliberately ruin your engagement banquet with my father? It was purely an accident."
"Accident? I think you have ulterior motives!" Felicity Franklin's voice grew sharper with agitation.
"Bringing the urn of a dead man to the engagement banquet is already a bad omen."
"And now you've shattered my ancestral jade bracelet—you're a jinx!"
"How can you say such things about my grandfather!" I clenched my fists, anger rising as I heard Felicity insult him.
"My grandfather is a hero; he sacrificed himself for our country. You have no right to insult him!"
"Hero? Who's to say he was really a hero? Maybe he was just a deserter!" Felicity spoke with no regard for tact.
I trembled with anger, pointing at Felicity Franklin, "Shut up! You have no right to insult my grandfather!"
Seeing that I dared to talk back, Felicity grew even angrier. "So what if I insulted him? You're just a little girl, and you still dare to challenge me?"
At that moment, Felicity's mother approached, pointed her finger at my nose, and scolded, "You ill-mannered b*tch, how dare you talk back to my daughter and break our family's ancestral jade bracelet? Today, I will make sure you learn your lesson!"
Then, Felicity's mother reached out as if to strike me.
I instinctively backed away, holding the urn tightly against my chest.
"Don't go too far!" I shouted loudly.
But Felicity Franklin and her family wouldn't listen; Felicity rushed forward, grabbed my hair, and pulled fiercely.
"Because you broke my jade bracelet, I will destroy you today!" Felicity said viciously.
The pain brought tears to my eyes; I tried to push her away but was held down firmly by her family.
Felicity Franklin's father came over and punched me directly in the stomach.
I bent over in pain, nearly dropping the urn cradled in my arms.
"Let go of me! Let go of me!" I struggled desperately.
But Felicity Franklin and her family, along with the relatives they brought, surrounded me, beating me with fists and feet.
Soon, my face and body were covered in bruises and cuts, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.
I felt as if my skull was about to shatter, the pain unbearable.
Yet I held tightly to my grandfather's urn, not allowing it to suffer even the slightest harm.
"Grab that ominous thing from her arms and throw it on the ground!" Felicity Franklin shouted loudly.
Several of her relatives immediately rushed forward, fiercely trying to seize the urn I was holding.
I clung tightly to the urn, refusing to let go.
Download the SnackShort app, Search 【 288605 】reads the whole book.
My Fiction
SnackShort
Booklite« Previous Post
The Strand of Hair
Next Post »
Bounty for Broken Bonds