"No." Jane Sampson gently shook her head, "Grandpa and Grandma love me, I know."
"But this love isnāt pure. Compared to the love you have for me and your grandfather, the love we have for you is not half as pure. So, your grandfather and I owe you an apology." Granny Sampton choked slightly, "When you were little, your grandfather and I genuinely loved you. But later, when Julie Sampton returned, for a long time, because of Julie, your grandfather and I neglected you, made you feel lonely, wronged, and sad."
As Granny Sampton spoke, tears suddenly streamed down her face. "Thereās actually something Iāve kept from you for a long time. When you were in high school, one day Peter Gingery came crying to your grandfather and me, begging us to treat you better and care for you more. Only then did your grandfather and I learn that you were sick. If it werenāt for Peter, your grandfather and I might have lost you, our beloved granddaughter."
It was through Peter Gingery that Granny Sampton and Old Sir Sampton found out about Jane Sampsonās severe depression. It was also then that they learned that Jane once had no will to live and had walked with her eyes closed across a tri-junction full of cars coming and going.
Peter was the one who saw that scene and rushed out to pull her back from the edge of death.
"Jane, those years after Julie returned must have been very painful for you. Your grandfather and I deeply regret it, regret neglecting you for so long because of Julieās insignificant little tricks." Granny Sampton held Jane Sampson tightly. "Jane, Grandpa and Grandma are sorry."
Jane Sampson gently raised her hand to wipe Granny Samptonās tears away. Her voice was soft, "Grandma, I donāt blame you."
"Later, when you married James Black, at that time, your grandfather and I didnāt sincerely ask you even once whether you loved James or whether marrying him would make you happy." Granny Samptonās tears became fiercer under Janeās soft palm. "At that time, your grandfather and I only thought about how the Sampton Family was in decline. If the family didnāt want to fall further, we needed to cling to the Black Familyās tall tree. So, back then, we didnāt dare to truly ask you even once whether youād be happy."
This was a question they truly didnāt dare ask.
After Jane Sampson and James Black got married, Granny Sampton and Grandpa Sampton watched James stationed with the guard team, while Jane was left alone in an empty house, living with him as distant strangers, even less familiar than friends. The elderly couple truly didnāt dare to ask Jane whether she was happy or sad.
Because they knew, at that time, Jane Sampson undoubtedly was unhappy and unfulfilled.
They didnāt dare ask, because they already knew the answer and felt profound remorse and guilt.
They had exploited their granddaughterās marriage, leaving them ashamed to face Jane.
"In recent days, seeing you and James getting better and better, seeing how he loves you and spoils you, your grandfather and I are much more relieved. I think, with James by your side, your grandfather can rest in peace now that heās gone." Over the years, Granny Sampton and Old Sir Sampton had been tormented within, but now they were much more comforted.
"Grandma, I donāt blame you and Grandpa. James is wonderful. I love him so much. You found me the best husband in the whole world." Jane Sampson couldnāt help shedding tears, "Grandma, Iāll tell Grandpa how good James is. He cooks for me, cleans for me, buys me gifts to cheer me upāI really, really like him."
"Good! Good! Good!" Granny Sampton said "good" three times in a row. The more resolve in her tone, the more ease in her heart.