He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did

Chapter 156 - 142: Mourning 2

Morgan Hayes took a deep breath. "I’m so sorry to hear that. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word."

"Could you pretend to be my boyfriend and come with me to the hospital to see my grandma one last time?"

Morgan Hayes never expected Annabelle Leighton to make such a request.

"Is that... appropriate?"

"My grandma’s greatest wish was for me to find someone good and settle down."

"So that’s why you went on the blind date?"

Annabelle Leighton nodded. "I just want her to pass on without any worries. I know lying is wrong, but it’s a white lie. Please, will you help me?"

Morgan Hayes considered it for a moment, then asked, "But why me?"

’Why him?’

It was because when the thought first crossed Annabelle Leighton’s mind, he was the first person who came up.

But Morgan Hayes’s words also served as a reminder. Her grandmother was already unconscious. If she just needed a man to pretend to be her boyfriend, it didn’t necessarily have to be him.

"You’re right, it doesn’t have to be you. If you won’t do it, I’ll find someone else right now."

As Annabelle Leighton spoke, she immediately pulled out her phone, looking as if she was about to scroll through her contacts to find a suitable candidate.

Morgan Hayes quickly put a hand on hers, stopping her from dialing. "I’ll do it. Who said I wouldn’t?"

"You really will? Thank you so much." Annabelle Leighton looked at Morgan Hayes gratefully. "Could I trouble you to come with me to the hospital right now?"

The old woman could pass away at any moment; Annabelle Leighton couldn’t bear to wait a second longer.

"Okay, let me get ready."

With that, Morgan Hayes went into his room.

Annabelle Leighton didn’t know what he needed to prepare for. When he came out, he had changed into a more formal-looking outfit. He had shaved the budding stubble clean, looking sharp and handsome.

He was truly treating this like he was meeting the parents.

"Let’s go," Morgan Hayes said to Annabelle Leighton.

Annabelle Leighton’s eyes welled up again.

"Thank you."

--

「The hospital room.」

Morgan Hayes saw Annabelle Leighton’s grandmother.

The old woman lay on the hospital bed, the rise and fall of her chest no longer visible. Only the faint data on the monitors proved she was still alive.

"Grandma." Annabelle Leighton pulled Morgan Hayes to the bedside. Fighting back tears, she said in a cheerful voice, "You always wanted me to bring my boyfriend home for you to see, didn’t you? Well, I really brought him today! Open your eyes and take a look at him, okay?"

Before she could even finish, tears were already streaming down her face.

"You must be upset that I only brought him to see you today. I’m sorry, Grandma. I’m so sorry."

Annabelle Leighton’s emotions spiraled out of control.

Morgan Hayes took a step forward, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He soothed her in a low voice, "Didn’t we agree you’d introduce me to Grandma happily? If you’re like this, she’ll think I’m bullying you. Do you want to put her mind at ease or not?"

His few words pulled Annabelle Leighton back from the brink of collapse.

’Right, what am I doing?’

Morgan Hayes pulled out a couple of tissues and wiped away Annabelle Leighton’s tears. He then walked to the old woman’s bedside and introduced himself. "Hello, Grandma. My name is Morgan Hayes, and I’m Annie’s boyfriend. I’m a police officer."

The old woman didn’t react, but that didn’t stop Morgan Hayes from talking at length.

"I’m so sorry I’m only coming to see you now. My work has been too busy—I was out of town working on a case. Then I got a little injured a while back, and I was afraid you’d worry, so I kept putting it off."

Even though it was just an act, Morgan Hayes took the blame for not coming to see her grandmother sooner.

Annabelle Leighton was touched.

"Grandma, did you hear that? He’s a police officer." Annabelle Leighton held the old woman’s hand. "You always told me that character is the most important thing when looking for a partner. He’s a wonderful person, with a strong sense of justice and responsibility. With him here to protect me, you can rest completely assured."

"That’s right, Grandma. From now on, I’ll take good care of Annie. I’ll love her and protect her, and I won’t let her suffer even the slightest grievance." Morgan Hayes’s tone was as solemn as if he were making a real vow.

After he spoke, he placed his hand over theirs.

The man’s large hand enveloped both Annabelle Leighton’s and her grandmother’s.

The gesture was like sealing a promise.

Through her tear-blurred eyes, Annabelle Leighton wasn’t sure if she was mistaken, but she thought she saw the corners of her grandmother’s mouth lift slightly beneath the oxygen mask.

She hoped she wasn’t mistaken.

She hoped her grandmother was truly at peace.

--

At dawn, the old woman passed away peacefully.

When she passed, only Annabelle Leighton and Morgan Hayes were by her side.

"Grandma." In the final moments, Annabelle Leighton didn’t cry. She held the old woman’s hand and made a promise, "We’ll see each other again in the next life."

Morgan Hayes rested his hand on Annabelle Leighton’s shoulder.

"My condolences," he said.

"You should go home now," Annabelle Leighton said to Morgan Hayes. "Thank you for being willing to see my grandma off on her final journey. I won’t trouble you anymore."

"You don’t need me to stay here with you?" Morgan Hayes asked.

Annabelle Leighton shook her head. "No, it’s okay. You can go attend to your own things."

Morgan Hayes thought about it. He didn’t really have a reason to stay. When Annabelle Leighton’s family and relatives arrived, his presence would be difficult to explain.

"Alright, I’ll leave then. Call me if you need anything."

"Okay."

Not long after Morgan Hayes left, Henry Leighton and his family of three arrived.

When they heard the old woman had passed away, the three of them rushed into the hospital room, wailing and crying.

"Mom!"

"Mom, why couldn’t you wait for me before you left?"

"Grandma... Grandma..."

Annabelle Leighton waited for them to finish crying before discussing the funeral arrangements for her grandmother with her father, Henry Leighton.

Henry Leighton was a prominent and wealthy businessman in Meritopia. With his mother’s passing, he was of course going to make the funeral a grand affair.

Annabelle Leighton had no objections to this. Her only request was that after the cremation, her grandmother’s ashes be taken back to her hometown for burial.

Ever since she was hospitalized in Meritopia, the old woman had often talked about going home, about returning to her roots. Annabelle Leighton knew her grandmother disliked Meritopia and longed to return to the place she had always lived.

Henry Leighton agreed.

The funeral was a grand event.

Many of Henry Leighton’s business partners came to pay their respects.

Jennifer Carter and Yasmine Leighton accompanied Henry Leighton in receiving the guests. Only Annabelle Leighton knelt alone in the memorial hall, keeping watch over her grandmother.

When Annabelle Leighton’s mother passed away, she had been too young to understand the concept of death. Now, gazing at the kind smile on her grandmother’s memorial portrait, her heart felt as if it were being carved out inch by inch.

Just like that, someone she could once see whenever she wanted was now gone forever.

Just as Annabelle Leighton was overcome with grief, Shane Sterling walked in through the entrance of the funeral home.

Isla Prescott had already called Annabelle Leighton the previous night. Isla was on bedrest to prevent a miscarriage and couldn’t get up, so she felt guilty that she couldn’t be there for Annabelle. She had said she would have Shane Sterling come today.

Seeing Shane Sterling arrive, Henry Leighton hurried over to greet him.

He was always like this, fawning over influential people.

Annabelle Leighton couldn’t be bothered to watch. Just as she was about to look away, she suddenly spotted Morgan Hayes behind Shane Sterling.