Please Take Me Home, Daddy - Chapter 375: Chapter 375

The hospital room fell into an unsettling silence with the arrival of Ashlyn.
She was like a ghost that appeared out of nowhere, staring intensely at a gold bar on the table. "Who brought this gold bar?"
Ashlyn's voice was sweet but trembling. "Why would anyone give Laura something so precious?"
No one responded.
Raising her voice, tears streaming, she demanded, "I'm asking who brought this gold bar?"
Ambrose frowned at her outburst, clearly annoyed. "Stop making a scene! Is this how I taught you to behave? And weren't you supposed to be apologizing? Starting a ruckus instead, have you no manners?"
Ashlyn ignored him, sitting down on the floor, sobbing. "Am I not well-mannered? I came here to apologize, but why give Laura a gold bar? Is that fair to me?"
Laura, catching on, pushed the gold bar back with both hands, earnestly saying, "Grandpa Albert, thank you for your kindness. I really appreciate it. But this is just too much. I absolutely cannot accept it."
With a sneer, Ashlyn grabbed a water bottle from the table and hurled it at Laura. "Stop pretending!"
Bert, quick as a flash, caught the water bottle.
Frustrated that her attack had failed, Ashlyn, like a small beast defending its territory, bared her teeth and yelled. "Laura, you must be gloating inside, yet you pretend to be indifferent about this gold bar. You think I can't see through you?"
Laura retorted with disdain, "I am not really interested. I'm not lying. Believe it or not."
Ashlyn shot back. "Screw you. I don't believe it."
Pointing at the gold bar, she continued, "Grandpa Albert never gave me anything like this. If it were me, I'd be thrilled! You're just putting on an act!"
Bert had enough. "Stop it!"
Ashlyn shivered, looking up at him with tears in her eyes.
Bert was heartbroken and spoke sternly. "Ashlyn, what are you? A bully? A thug? What business do you have meddling in gifts that your grandfather gives to his own granddaughter? What right do you have to question others about gifts to their family?"
Ashlyn, her mouth agape as if struck by lightning, choked out a rebuttal. "I didn't mean to tell Grandpa Albert what to do. I just don't get along with this girl. You all like her now. You stopped liking me the moment she arrived. I'm apologizing now, but why not give me the gold bar? I am also part of the family!"
Ashlyn looked at Albert and continued to wail on the floor. "Give it to me, please, Grandpa! I want it. Don't give it to Laura. I'm also your favorite granddaughter."
Laura looked at Albert.
Albert, with a stern face, watched Ashlyn.
Ashlyn, with a hopeful eye, pleaded, "Grandpa Albert, I really know my mistake. Please agree. You love me the most, don't you?"
Albert said sternly. "Get out."
Ashlyn was struck dumb.
Albert, without a glance, coldly stated, "Your jealousy and penchant for bullying don't make me fond of you. I decide whom to be kind to. Laura is my beloved granddaughter. And as for your previous mistreatment of her, I'll pretend it never happened. That's the biggest kindness I could offer to you. Do you understand?"
His voice was soft, yet it carried a powerful undertone.
Struck as if by a bolt from the blue, tears streamed down Ashlyn's face as she shook her head in disbelief. "No, I don't accept it."
Albert ran out of patience, pointing to the door. "Leave now."
Realizing he was serious, she cried and made a scene, "No, I don't want to. Grandpa Albert, where did I go wrong that you don't like me anymore? I can change. I really can change. I'll be good and never make mistakes again."
Ashlyn pointed a trembling finger at Laura, her expression filled with sorrow so deep it was as though Laura had destroyed her entire life. "If only you'd never shown up, Laura. You should just die! Die!"
Laura, baffled and unfazed, responded, "Why is it my fault you're annoying?"
Ashlyn, eyes shut tight, refused to listen and even raised her voice. "It is your fault! I'll beat you to death! Ah!"
Her shrill voice forced everyone in the room to cover their ears.
Bert's patience snapped. He grabbed Ashlyn by the scruff of her neck like a misbehaving kitten and dragged her away from the scene.
Ashlyn cried like she was being led to slaughter, desperately clinging to every table in reach. "I don't want to go. You all must be nice to me. I don't want you to be nice to her, please."
Laura watched the door with a look of deep resentment.
Outside, Ashlyn pressed her face against the glass, still crying. "Laura, you better not get too close to my Grandpa Albert, or I won't let you off."
Even as her figure disappeared, her cries still echoed in Laura's ears.
Albert looked apologetically at Laura. "Are you okay? No harm done, right?"
Laura shook her head, recovering her composure. "I'm fine, really, thank you."
Ambrose, suffering from a massive headache, apologized, "I'm really sorry my granddaughter caused such trouble. She's always been a headache. Let me make it up to you later with some treats."
Laura waved it off. "It's okay, really."
Once again, she pushed the gold bar back, offering a sheepish smile. "Grandpa, I truly appreciate your kindness, but I really can't accept this."
Albert's brow furrowed, still distressed from the unpleasantness, and after a moment of silence, he took the gold bar back.
"It's okay," he said resolutely. "I believe that one day you'll be ready to accept what I offer you, and it'll be much more than this. I believe our relationship will improve. And thank you for not disliking me from the get-go. I'm grateful for that."
Laura scratched her head, suddenly feeling a bit guilty.
Awkwardly, she said, "I don't need gifts. But I'm happy to play with you."
Albert's expression softened, and he was honest. "It's not that you need gifts. It's that I need to give it to you. I owe it to your mom, and to you. I'll make it up, and I'm starting with the simplest things."
Laura tilted her head, puzzled. "The simplest things? What does that mean?"
Albert picked up his phone, calm as ever. "I'll start by creating a fan club and becoming your number one fan. I'll be your biggest Stan. Is that what they call it?"
Laura, stunned, could only stutter, "W—What?"