Wilfred sighed. “What are you talking about? Who told you I have insomnia? Don‘t listen to the
nonsense Justin says!”
Lily knew it was true the more Wilfred tried to deny it. After being the family‘s backbone for so long,
there was no way he would admit that age was catching up to him and that he was getting frail and
sick.
However, Lily knew Wilfred‘s pridefulness and did not try to call him out. Instead, she agreed, “I know
you choose not to sleep, but didn‘t you always tell us the importance of resting for kickboxers like us?
You said that we‘d have to recharge our energy. Yet, you‘re not doing it yourself.” Wilfred laughed after
hearing what she said, and this surprised Lily. It was rare to see a severe man like him laughing. A few
seconds later, he sighed again. “You still remember what I said?”
“Of course I do!” How could she forget? After so many years of teaching, it had already instilled itself in
her. She could remember everything even with her eyes closed.
“Then you must still remember how I punished you. Am I right?” Wilfred continued.
Lily stayed silent. There was no way she would forget it. It was because of how harsh his punishments
were that made her want to run away from this house.
At this time, the only thought in Lily‘s mind was how terrible it was to live with the Lodge family. Little
did she know that the outside world was more sinister. In contrast, those days she spent honing her
body and willpower were much more manageable than when she left the house.
Seeing that she did not speak, Wilfred patted the back of her hand lightly. “I admit, I was a little too
strict with you when you were younger. But even now, I don‘t regret it. I‘m just pleased that you‘re
back.”
It was not easy for him to say these things. Although Lily had never expected an apology, the residual
resentment in her heart disappeared without a trace after hearing that.
Now that Lily looked back, that was how all the Lodge family members grew up. She did not get any
special treatment just because she was a girl, but in the same way, the family did not give her extra
burdens to bear.
It was a risk for the Lodge family not to impose any practice and lay a solid foundation, as there were
too many opportunities for people to provoke and attack them. Without it, how could the Lodge family
face any challenges in the future?
Later, Lily understood that Nathaniel was the reason behind the rift between herself and the Lodge
family. At that time, she did not want to return to the Lodge family because she felt it would be
shameless to crawl back home like that. Instead, she wanted to focus on making a name for herself
before she returned with honor.
In her mind, Wilfred would forgive her by then and finally admire Nathaniel. However, it turned out that
her family was right. Indeed, Nathaniel was not a good man, and his actions blinded Lily.
Now, as she sat here and recalled the past, it was like a haze finally clearing up. The few words Wilfred
had said, alongside the pat on her hand, had awakened her from her nightmare.
“Grandpa,” Lily called out. Then she leaned into Wilfred’s arms and mumbled, “I‘m sorry.”
Although Wilfred did not speak, Lily could feel his body shake. He was probably shocked by her
sudden approach. Over the past decades, no child had ever acted so affectionately toward him. Be it
his children or his disciples, all were respectful yet fearful toward him. They would all rush to hide when
they saw him coming; there was no way they would snuggle up in his arms like this.
Maybe he was hesitant, or maybe he was just slow to react, but instead of Lily away, he lowered his
head and looked at Lily. A familiar feeling surged in his heart, and it was as if he was brought back in
time to when he was a father for the first time.
After so many years of holding his head up high and maintaining an air of majesty around the children,
he had almost forgotten how it felt to be a loving father and a kind grandfather.
After returning to his senses, Wilfred raised his hand and gently stroked Lily‘s back. “That‘s nonsense.”
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