Chapter 12 Kevin Lavette Has Passed Away

• Kevin's will had clearly named Timothy as the next head of the Lavette Family, signaling that Connor's chances were now completely dashed.
• At this moment, he had no grounds for argument and dared not voice any objections.
• "Timothy will lead the Lavette Family... to a century of glory..." Kevin managed to utter these words before his breath began to falter.
• He reached out his hand as if trying to grasp something in the air, as though he were reaching for someone's hand. Shadows seemed to materialize around him, their hands stretching out toward him.
• "Hunter, Wendy, Ariel, I'm sorry... I'm coming..." His words grew weaker as they trailed off into silence. His hand fell limply to the edge of the bed, his strength giving way. His eyes slowly closed as if gently shutting the door to his final journey.
• "Dad..."
• "Grandpa Kevin..."
• "Old Mr. Lavette, may you rest in peace."
• In the room, Robert, Hector, Simon, and Zachary had all fallen to their knees beside the bed, their faces etched with deep sorrow.
• They carefully arranged Kevin's features, smoothing out the lines of his final expression to ensure he looked at peace before stepping out of the room.
• The younger family members were anxiously watching and speculating about what had happened when they saw Robert and the others emerge from the room, their faces marked with sorrow.
• The scene before Timothy unfolded like a slow-motion nightmare. He felt an oppressive weight settle in his chest. An ominous premonition coiled within him, tightening its grip as he watched Robert, supported by Hector, step forward with deliberate steps to face the gathered younger generation of the Lavette Family.
• Robert paused for a few moments, letting the weight of the silence deepen before he finally spoke. His voice was hoarse, each word carefully measured and laden with sorrow. "Kevin... has passed away…"
• The announcement fell like a hammer, the words crashing down upon them with the force of a bolt from the blue. It reverberated through the expansive Lavette Family residence.
• In that instant, an eerie silence enveloped the courtyard. All around, people stood frozen, their expressions etched with disbelief and shock. The news had come with no warning, blindsiding them all.
• Gradually, some among them began to accept the truth. They reminded themselves that given Kevin's old age, his passing was inevitable, a question not of if but of when.
• Yet, Timothy remained rooted to the spot, his mind reeling from the impact of Robert's words. They were simple yet devastating, and he struggled to process them. It seemed impossible that he had just left his grandfather's room not seven or eight minutes ago.
• "Dad, has Grandpa Kevin really passed away? How could it happen so suddenly..." Hubert broke the silence, his voice trembling with disbelief and grief.
• Swoosh!
• Before Robert could respond, Timothy seemed to awaken from a trance. With a swift movement, like a phantom, he dashed past the others and raced toward Kevin's room.
• The entire Lavette Family watched in stunned silence once more as he disappeared from view.
• Robert also began to move, heading toward the direction of Kevin's room.
• The others, seeing what was happening, didn't hesitate and quickly followed behind Robert. However, the shadow of Timothy was already out of sight.
• He had already reached the door of Kevin's room.
• Thud, thud, thud...
• He could clearly hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. He paused momentarily to calm himself, drawing in a deep breath to steady his nerves. But as he reached out to push the door, his hand trembled uncontrollably, as if electrified by a surge of anxious energy.
• One second, two seconds, three seconds ticked by, each moment stretching into an eternity, until finally, his hand rested against the door. He gently, ever so gently, pushed it open, as if worried that any louder sound might disturb Kevin.
• With a soft creak, the door swung open.
• He stepped inside and, just as he had when he reached the room, he stopped abruptly in his tracks and was frozen in place.
• Following his gaze, one could see the elderly man lying on the bed, eyes closed, with traces of tears still visible on his face. He was peacefully asleep.
• "Grandpa Kevin..." he called softly, his eyes red and brimming with tears.
• There was no response. The figure on the bed remained still.
• Desperate for any sign of acknowledgment, he called out again, his voice cracking with emotion as he stepped cautiously toward the bed.
• One step, two steps, three steps... The short distance of only a few meters felt like a fleeting moment and yet an eternity for him.
• He stopped and half-knelt beside his grandfather, after which he reached out with trembling hands to grasp the old man's hand.
• He could clearly feel that Kevin's hand was no longer as warm as it once was; it had grown cold.
• Moreover, he could neither hear his heartbeat nor feel his breath.
• Even though the truth was staring him in the face, he struggled with a profound disbelief. The reality of this sudden and cruel loss seemed impossible to accept.
• "Grandpa Kevin... it's me, Timothy. What has happened to you? Please, open your eyes and look at me!"
• He gripped Kevin's hand with a desperation that bordered on frenzy, and his voice was hoarse with emotion. His eyes remained locked on Kevin's serene face, a face that seemed so peaceful now yet seemed to mock the turmoil within him. He hoped against hope for a miracle that seemed increasingly out of reach.
• But miracles did not come. There was no sign of life, no flicker of response.
• Thud!
• With a sudden and heavy thud, he collapsed to his knees beside Kevin's bed. His body trembled uncontrollably as memories of their last encounter rushed through his mind.
• "Grandpa Kevin, didn’t you tell me you wanted to see me settle down and start a family? Didn’t you say you wanted to hold my and Lilian's child? How could you leave us so suddenly?" he whispered, his voice breaking with each word.
• "Please, just say something!" he implored, though he knew in his heart that it was too late.
• In that moment, the formidable Primordial Master, a man feared and respected by all factions, who had shed blood but never tears in countless battles, was reduced to a figure of raw, heart-wrenching grief. He clung to the old man's hand, leaned over the bedside, spoke hoarsely, and wept like a child as tears streamed down uncontrollably.
• Footsteps echoed from outside the room, but he paid them no heed. He didn't bother to wipe away his tears or even lift his head. He continued to cry, a raw and heart-wrenching sob that shook his entire body.
• Ping!
• A shattering sound echoed from the depths of his heart, like the breaking of glass. In his heart, two guiding lights had remained, and now, one of them had shattered.
• The light dimmed and finally disappeared, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
• The door to the room burst open with a forceful push, and Robert, accompanied by a solemn procession of family members, entered. They were immediately met with a heart-wrenching scene: Timothy, overcome with grief, was clutching Kevin's lifeless hand, his cries piercing the stillness like jagged shards of glass.
• It was clear to all present that Kevin had truly departed from this world.
• "Timothy, get up and stand back!" Robert commanded, his voice heavy and somber.
• At the sound of this, Timothy ceased his weeping. His once tear-streaked face hardened, his eyes narrowing into icy, dangerous slits. An almost visible wave of murderous intent emanated from him, creating a chilling aura that seemed to suffuse the room.
• The others in the room felt an inexplicable chill wash over them, prompting involuntary shivers. They couldn't quite pinpoint the source of this sudden coldness.
• Lilian, sensing his profound grief, disregarded the formal setting and reached out to hold his hand, offering a silent comfort.
• "Timothy..." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet it resonated with a comforting warmth that sought to pull him back from the brink of an even darker place.
• In the presence of his departed grandfather, he chose restraint. He rose with visible effort and set aside his tumultuous emotions as he complied with Robert's request and moved to stand at the back of the room.
• Lilian, meanwhile, caught a meaningful look from Simon and made her way to the doorway as she was not a member of the Lavette Family, and tradition dictated she should not intrude on the ritual.
• "Let us pay our final respects to Kevin," Robert intoned, his voice heavy with the weight of sorrow. He knelt first, and the other family members quickly followed suit, their movements synchronized in a display of collective mourning.
• Timothy was the last to kneel. Unlike the others, who first bowed their heads before kneeling, he dropped heavily to both knees with a loud thud.
• "Dad, I bring the Lavette family descendants to bow to you..."
• Gazing at the serene expression of Kevin, Robert began to bow.
• The sound of bowing echoed through the room, and after a while, the sound ceased, replaced by the sobbing of the family.