Raised From The Wild-Chapter 409: The Grandpa and Grandson 3

"Where is Mommy? I want Mommy!" The little boy’s shrill cry was like a knife tearing at the hearts of the Skylar men.

Derik realized his outbursts negatively impacted Marx. He crouched down, looked at Marx in the eyes, and said in a gentle voice.

"Marx, your mommy is in the recovery room. Though her heart stopped, Uncle was able to bring it back to life. How about you see your baby brother first? Then, when your Mommy is a little better, you can see her." Derik’s voice was always gentle when he talked to Marx.

"You are not lying to me, Uncle? Is Mommy alright?" Marx asked with hopeful eyes.

Derik felt a lump in his throat. Frederick’s eyes reddened while Hendrix pursed his lips.

"Of course, Uncle is not lying." He picked up the young Marx and carried him to the direction of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where the premature baby was incubated.

Hendrix followed his second son after glaring at Frederick.

Frederick stood just outside the operating room, caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He longed to take Marx from Derik’s care, but the pull of his wife, Gracie, weighed heavily on his heart, keeping him rooted in place.

After what felt like an eternity, he learned that Gracie was still recovering, her condition stable but requiring time and rest. With a heavy sigh, he reluctantly made his way to the NICU. There, a nurse stopped him and told him that Stacey had woken up, was crying and looking for him.

"It is good that she woke up. I’ll come to her after checking my other son!" He said in a haggard voice.

"Sir, Mrs. Estelle also asked for you." The nurse said after hesitating for a while.

"Just take care of her first. I will come when everything is settled here." Frederick said indifferently. He knew his priorities. He loved his wife, after all.

When Estelle learned that Frederick did not look for his daughter, she was very angry and swept the things on the bedside table with her injured hand, causing her so much pain and her wound to bleed. She cursed Gracie and her children.

Marx saw his father spend the rest of the days caring for Gracie in the hospital. There was a time when Gracie had another cardiac arrest. Marx panicked and was so scared that he cried unceasingly while the doctors were trying their best to save her.

He heard his father’s ruthless voice.

"Gracie, don’t you dare die. If you do, I will let Estelle bully your two children!"

Derik, who was resuscitating Gracie, glared at Frederick. He could not believe that Frederick would spout such nonsense in times like that. But like a miracle, the heart monitor started beeping steadily, and Gracie’s pallid face slowly gained color.

Marx ran to the side of the bed and held his mother’s hand while he stifled his sobs.

Frederick heaved a sigh of relief. For a moment, he thought that he would really lose her.

But in the end, Gracie was only able to hold on for a year before she succumbed to heart failure. A few days after Karl celebrated his first birthday, she died of cardiac arrest. No matter how wealthy the Skylars and the Frosts were, their riches could not save Gracie Frost. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

His father and Uncle Derik founded NexGen in memory of Gracie Frost. After his mom died, everyone was surprised when Frederick did not marry Estelle, contrary to everyone’s expectations.

Marx respected his father for that. But then, the cunning Estelle found ways to bully Marx by using her two children. She vented her frustration of not becoming Mrs. Skylar to the young Marx.

The bullying only stopped when Marx turned eight. By then, he had learned to record evidence and showed them to his grandfather.

His grandfather indeed became his father figure because Frederick was too busy taking care of his half-siblings, and Karl, who was the apple of his eyes, because he resembled Gracie more, especially his eyes, which were dark gray just like Gracie’s.

"Marx Skylar! Did you hear what I said?" Hendrix’s displeased voice pulled Marx from his trip down memory lane.

He blinked slowly, trying to steady his racing thoughts as he focused on the elder’s expression, a stern scowl that seemed to radiate disapproval. It struck him with a jolt how far off course his thoughts had strayed, like a ship lost in a storm.

Then he remembered what day it was: his mother’s death anniversary.

"You brat, are you even listening? Gracie’s birthday will be in three weeks, and you should come home."

"I understand, Grandpa. I will be there." Marx answered, and Hendrix hummed.

The Skylars never celebrated Gracie’s death anniversaries but would celebrate her birthday. Marx and Karl would never miss it.

"You should bring Princess Amaya and introduce her to your mother." Hendrix smiled meaningfully. He knew the princess had a special place in his grandson’s heart. Instead of pushing Marx toward other women he did not like, he had already accepted in his heart that the first princess of Lireya might become his grandaughter-in-law.

Marx’s face brightened. He had not considered it before, but since his grandfather brought it up, he would ask Princess Amaya if she wanted to come.

"Don’t worry, Grandpa. I will bring her with me if she consents."

Marx raised his wrist to check the time.

"By the way, Grandpa, check your email. I sent an encrypted file. Those are additional evidence to incriminate those who supported Dark Phoenix in Usturia. Also, be wary of a few Supremos in the Alliance. I have a gut feel that the Dark Phoenix has planted a spy in the Alliance.

"Brat, why do I feel that you are bossing me around? Are you the grandfather, or am I?"

"Of course, you are my grandpa," Marx answered without hesitation, a doting smile on his lips.

Marx hung up the call, the sound of his fingers lightly tapping the watch fading into silence. With a spring in his step, he exited the hidden enclave of the secret garden and made his way toward the grand dining room of the Maharlika palace.

Finally, after a long time, he will meet Princess Amaya without pretenses!