The Secret Obsession of the CEO-Chapter 231: The Visit

The launch was very successful. The social media team of Liam’s company put in a tremendous amount of work and that aided in the success of the business.

Pictures of Liam and Rory trended on all social media platforms. That almost put stop to the various rumors that were circulating that she and Liam had broken up and were in a nasty custody battle.

Many articles were posted about the relaunch of Liam’s company. Mainly, they were interested because of the upcoming trials, but mostly because Liam’s PR team had prepared for it to amplify the effect.

A lot of people congratulated them and supported the launch. And of course, the internet being the internet, there were some who called them nasty opportunists for using the trial as a stepping-stone, not caring about the victims.

Rory didn’t think of it from that angle, but she did wonder if what they are doing is any different from what Sidney wanted to do. She was always selfish when it comes to Liam and so she never even thought about everything from any other angle than making sure that they are taking all measures to enable the success of the company.

Rory was scrolling through the comments during their ride back home. She was glad to see some wishing them the best from their heart. They were called role models for how to get successfully get over a trauma. She told Liam about certain comments that called them opportunists. Liam patted her hand and leaned on the back of his seat with his eyes closed.

His lips curved into a smile.

"You expected this?" She asked.

"I did," he said. "You shouldn’t care about them. We can’t wait until he dies, can we?" he asked.

He then closed his eyes again. Rory looked at him seemingly pleased with everything. He should be happy that everything went well. But there was a certain something she couldn’t recognize in his smile. She wondered what that was.

Liam didn’t let her think for long and answered her without her even asking.

"He must know by now..." he smirked. "And he’ll be fuming..."

Rory leaned on his arm and patted his chest. Her lips curved into a smile too. Lennon told her that Liam only succeeded because of him. But Liam proved him wrong.

But Lennon probably would still make it about him and say that Liam still used his influence. But this time he cannot say that Liam rode on his coattails. He stepped on his back and went to a height Lennon could never reach.

Liam proved himself to be a good man, while Lennon is going to be tried for being the worst piece of sh*t to have ever lived on this planet.

"Maybe we should hold a launch party for Europe too," Liam said.

Rory nodded. If he finds it necessary, he can.

Their penthouse building was surrounded by reporters at all times. No matter what they tried, those guys didn’t leave. With just three days left for the trial to start, they wanted to get word from both of them, mainly from Rory.

Rory suggested a quick visit to their grandmother’s home. They are yet to meet Liam’s little sister. And Rory wanted to visit her grandmother too.

Mrs. Delport told her that her condition is only getting worse as was predicted and that she doesn’t remember much these days. Rory hired a nurse to look after her grandmother much to Mrs. Delport’s protests. She wanted to take care of Agnes herself. But she too is getting old and there is only so much she could handle alone.

Rory’s heart skipped a beat entering the dirt road leading to their grandparent’s home. It was not a crippling fear, but she was still uneasy to get there. But she knew she would be safe there.

They went to see her grandmother first because they were planning on staying in Liam’s house for the night. Rory still was not comfortable sleeping in her grandmother’s house.

It hurt Rory to see her grandmother looking at her like a little child. She had a picture in her hand that she held close to her heart. She didn’t recognize Rory and maybe that’s why her eyes were so soft and gentle. Rory couldn’t understand that. She had never seen her grandmother’s eyes be gentle.

She wondered if the sickness changed her, or if it brought out her true heart.

Maybe this is her true heart. Maybe the stern and stoic exterior she possessed was just a defense mechanism. Maybe only her grandfather saw her true heart. That’s why he loved her so much. And Mrs. Delport too... And Liam...

Rory sighed.

Turns out, everyone other than her knew the kind side of Agnes Roberts except for her. Who is to be blamed then?

"I have a granddaughter," Agnes said looking at Rory. "She’s twelve... She recently came to live with us," she said.

Rory nodded. "You must love her so much," she said. Her eyes clouded when Agnes nodded. That is the first time she heard her grandmother say that she loved her.

"She’s beautiful... You want to see?" Agnes gestured for Rory to come close to her.

Rory looked at Liam holding Ellie. Her grandmother didn’t even recognize Ellie anymore. It was sad. Rory walked closer to her grandmother, and she showed her the picture she kept close to her heart. It was a picture of Rory with her grandfather.

"Grandpa was handsome," Rory said wiping the corner of her eyes. Her grandmother is having a picture of her with her after she lost her mind. Not the picture of her son, but the picture of the granddaughter she never got to show her love to.

"He was..." Agnes looked at the picture with a smile. As she held the picture by the corner, it shook as her hands shook. With her wrinkly, shaking hand she brought the picture to her lips and kissed it.

Liam rubbed her back. That helped Rory from sobbing right there. She must have loved grandpa very much.

"Your husband is handsome too," Agnes said looking at Rory. "You look a lot like my granddaughter...And the baby...She... Aurora... she... baby..." she pointed at Ellie and then her eyes went blank, and she started shaking.

Rory was troubled. Mrs. Delport asked Liam to bring both Rory and Ellie out. Since Mrs. Delport looked certain that she can handle this situation, Rory stepped out.

Mrs. Delport came out after thirty minutes. "She fell asleep," she said and sat in the chair in front of them.

"I am sorry I didn’t do more for her... She’s... It’s hard to watch her like this..." Rory wiped her tears. Her grandmother does not have much time left.

"Don’t feel bad," Mrs. Delport held Rory’s hand. "You were amazing. You gave her so much happiness in the later part of her life. She sometimes remembers the times she spent with her great-granddaughter..."

"She does?" Rory raised her brows. "I am happy Ellie got to spend some time with her...Although..." she sighed.

Ellie won’t remember spending time with her when she grows up and her grandmother is not so different from Ellie right now. Except her grandmother will go to a place where the living cannot go.

"You can tell your daughter how great her great-grandmother was..." Mrs. Delport held her hand. "And tell her how happy her presence made her great-grandmother when she was in a difficult stage of her life...that in the end, she valued her family more than anything..."

Rory nodded. There are some things in this world that cannot be changed. Death is inevitable for everyone. But we should find a way to cope and move forward. Remembering the good, forgetting the bad, and being thankful for everything they’ve taught us is the better way to move forward.

"I cannot express how thankful I am for her. I hope she knows that" Rory said.

Her grandmother helped them a lot in their times of need. She didn’t know how she could thank her for that. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"She knows. No, she wouldn’t care. She always thought it was her duty to protect you. So, don’t worry about anything... Tell me about the launch. I heard it was a success?" Mrs. Delport changed the topic.

Liam answered her and Mrs. Delport listened to everything eagerly. Ellie was walking around the living room holding the wall. She couldn’t walk for a long time, but she would sit and then try and walk again.

She didn’t like standing still.

And Rory noticed her dear daughter looking at her with her bright eyes wide. She knew that look. Ellie needed a diaper change. Liam offered, but Rory decided to do it. She had a feeling that Mrs. Delport needed to talk to Liam about something important.

Mrs. Delport let out a deep sigh seeing Rory leaving the room with her daughter.

"You better take the best care of her. Otherwise..." Mrs. Delport warned him for the umpteenth time.

"What do you want to say to me?" Liam asked.

"I do have something to say to you," Mrs. Delport said.

She was thinking about it a lot and she finally made her decision.