Melting Her Cold Heart
Chapter 32: To Forgive and Forget

Chapter 32: To Forgive and Forget

At the Legends household,

Mr. Crawford’s eyes fixed contemplatively on the untouched glass of wine in front of him, his thoughts seemingly a thousand miles away. Across from him, Nicholas Legend, the formidable maternal grandfather of Alex, sat in silence, his presence exuding an aura of gravity and intensity. The air was heavy with unspoken words, and the tension between them was palpable, like the delicate dance of two opposing forces waiting to converge.

The two men sat in Nicholas’ study, the air thick with tension. Williams was well aware that Nicholas was less than thrilled about his presence, yet he had chosen to come anyway. It was time to address the elephant in the room and resolve their long-standing issues. The weight of their unresolved conflicts hung heavy, making the silence between them almost unbearable. Williams was determined to confront the past and clear the air, no matter how uncomfortable the conversation might become.

Williams started to speak, "Thank you for having me..." but Nicholas abruptly interrupted him, exhibiting no regard for his thoughts. Williams wasn’t taken aback by Nicholas’ curt behavior or his harsh tone; it had become the norm since the passing of his wife, Juliette. The tension between them had been palpable for years, and Williams had grown accustomed to Nicholas’ brusque demeanor.

Nicholas bore a grudge against Williams, holding him responsible for his daughter’s tragic passing. In a painful twist, Nicholas took custody of Williams’ young son, who was also his own grandson. Consumed by grief and self-blame for Juliette’s death, Williams restrained himself from taking action, tormented by the guilt that lingered. He was forced to witness his child grow up under Nicholas’ care, even adopting a new name. However, the time had come to lay the past to rest and forge a new path forward. After all these years, perpetuating the cycle of resentment would only serve to further fracture the family. It was time for healing and reconciliation.

"Please state your purpose for visiting, Williams," Nicholas said gruffly, his brow furrowed in a scowl. "As you can see, I’m extremely busy," he motioned to the paperwork cluttering his table. Anyone observing the scene might wonder what issues Alex was addressing, given that he handled all the company’s problems. However, the Legends were a large and complex family, and even without the demands of their business ventures, internal family matters could keep anyone fully occupied.

With a deliberate slowness, Williams inhaled deeply and exhaled, struggling to rein in his turbulent emotions and keep his anger in check. Nicholas’ provoking behavior was pushing him to the limit. "Twenty-five years have passed, Nicholas," Williams said, his voice measured and controlled. "I believe it’s time we laid the past to rest." Yet, Nicholas’ face remained an impassive mask, his expression unyielding and unforgiving, like a fortress wall that Williams’ words couldn’t breach.

Williams continued, his voice laced with a hint of desperation, "Our ongoing feud will only hurt Alex more, and for his sake, if nothing else, let’s try to find common ground. At the very least, we owe it to him to put our differences aside for his well-being." He paused, hoping for a glimmer of agreement, but Nicholas’ face remained a stoic mask, his silence a deafening barrier that seemed impenetrable. No words of conciliation or disagreement escaped his lips, leaving Williams’ words to hang in the air, suspended in a sea of tension.

A low, mirthless chuckle escaped Nicholas’ lips, his shoulders trembling with suppressed emotion. He shook his head in incredulity, his gaze piercing as he fixed Williams with a stern stare. "You have the audacity to ask me to welcome you with open arms, Williams, after your actions led to the death of my only child? You expect me to forgive and forget, to smile and pretend that the past never happened?" Nicholas’ voice dripped with sarcasm and pain, his words laced with a venom that seemed to sear the air between them.

Williams’ eyes dropped, his voice laced with a mix of shame and humility. "No, Nicholas, I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I’m merely seeking a way for us to coexist, to put our animosity aside." Williams knew he couldn’t request forgiveness, not when he struggled to forgive himself. He didn’t expect Nicholas, of all people, to absolve him of his guilt. If there was anyone whose forgiveness he sought, it was his son Kayden’s. William’s thoughts drifted to the one person he had hurt most, the one whose pardon he longed for, but didn’t dare ask.

"Alexander has thrived without your influence until now, and he’ll continue to do so," Nicholas said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I want no further entanglements with you or your family. Leave Alexander to me; I’ll ensure my grandson’s well-being. After all, he’s a Legend, and Legends don’t need the likes of you." Nicholas’ smirk cut deep, striking a nerve in Williams, who felt the sting of his words like a fresh wound.

"I believe our conversation is at an end," Nicholas said curtly, his tone dismissive and final. "I have more important matters to attend to, and I’m sure you do too... elsewhere." He gestured toward the door, his hand extended in a clear indication that their meeting was over. "Please, leave. I have work to attend to," Nicholas added, his voice firm but controlled, as he ushered Williams out of his study, closing the Chapter on their tense and unresolved encounter.

Williams’ eyes locked onto Nicholas, incredulity etched on his face as he struggled to comprehend the abrupt dismissal. He couldn’t help but wonder if Nicholas would ever come to realize that Kayden’s well-being depended on their families putting aside their differences. Though Kayden’s expression remained impassive, Williams sensed that the rift between their families had a profound impact on him. "Nicholas..." Williams said, his voice laced with a hint of desperation, as he reached out to the man, hoping to pierce the armor of his pride and prejudice, and connect with the grandfather of his son.

"LEAVE!" Nicholas thundered, his voice rising to a commanding crescendo, as he slammed his hand on the desk, making it clear that the conversation was definitively over. The single word hung in the air like a challenge, a stark contrast to Williams’ pleading tone, and served as a stark reminder of the unbridgeable chasm between them.

"Juliette’s death anniversary is just two months away, Nicholas. I can’t help but think she’d be heartbroken to see her father and husband still at odds after all these years," Williams said, his voice laced with a hint of sadness and a final plea. He hoped to appeal to Nicholas’ softer side, to reach the man who had loved Juliette just as much as he had. "Can’t we just put our differences aside, for her sake? Can’t we just agree to get along?" Williams asked, his eyes searching Nicholas’ face for any glimmer of understanding, any crack in the armor that shielded and concealed his emotions.