Chapter 255

Carissa anticipated such a misunderstanding. While she had previously claimed to understand, she hadn't fully comprehended. It was just as when she had rushed to Eldoria after receiving Rafael's letter. Despite her efforts to temper her hopes, she had to see for herself.

So, hearing Anthony's words, her temper flared. She turned, threw back the curtain, and lifted Ryan. The two stood before Anthony.

With a cold voice, Carissa said, “At least take a good look. Throughout the journey, Ryan wrote messages in my hand, worried that you might reject him. I reassured him that you wouldn't.”

Anthony was reluctant, but he instinctively glanced at the child. In that one glance, he realized how wrong he had been. His heart nearly stopped. The resemblance was undeniable. Although Ryan was gaunt, and not as chubby and adorable as before, the similarity was unmistakable.

Anthony's lips trembled, and his eyes quickly filled with tears. He tentatively called out, "Ryan?"

Ryan's tears fell relentlessly, and he struggled to be set down. Carissa gently set him down, and he extended his hand, making a high-five gesture toward Anthony. Then, with two fingers, Ryan drew an imaginary inkpot in the air. After making the gesture, Ryan lowered his hands, his shoulders shaking as he cried.

Seeing the gesture, Anthony felt as though his heart was being torn apart. This gesture was something only he and Ryan knew. A month before the incident, when Anthony and Sophia visited Northwatch Estate to see Yvette and Ryan, Ryan had shown him his schoolwork, and Anthony had praised his writing. Anthony also gave Ryan a high-five, promising that if Ryan continued to work hard and received his teacher's praise, Anthony would gift him an inkpot from Ebonwood. Ryan had mentioned that his teacher said the ink made in Ebonwood was the finest.

Later, Anthony, busy with affairs in the Royal Citadel, forgot the promise. Each time he remembered, he felt immense regret. To ease his conscience, he had purchased several inkpots but had never been able to give them away.

Anthony crouched down and lifted Ryan into his arms, his voice choked with emotion. "Your uncle didn't break his promise. I've bought the inkpot, and it's waiting for you."

Ryan's small hand wiped away Anthony's tears, then he struggled to be put down. He wanted to walk by himself.

Seeing this, Carissa's anger melted away. "Anthony, let him down. He likes to walk by himself."

But Anthony didn't release him. He held on tightly, unable to let go.

The steward, seeing the situation, also wiped his tears. Realizing the child was indeed Ryan, he hurried inside to report to Anthony's parents. The entire Klein household was thrown into a frenzy.

With trembling hands, Sophia gave Ingrid a Heartshield Pill before crying, "Ryan didn't die! Ryan has returned!"

Ingrid, bedridden and barely coherent, didn't fully grasp the news. She sighed deeply and mournfully cried out, "Yvette and Ryan… My precious ones, they're gone!"

Sophia quickly corrected her, "Grandmother, Ryan has returned. He didn't die! It's true! He will be here to see you soon!"

Ingrid's eyes widened, and a sudden surge of strength allowed her to grasp Sophia's wrist tightly. "What? What did you say?"

Outside, Diana clutched Ryan and cried so intensely she almost fainted. Her grandson was alive! When Diana had first learned of her daughter and grandson's deaths—she even heard that her grandson's head and body needed to be sewn together for a complete corpse—it had been devastating. The news had nearly killed her; she had cried for a whole month. Now, Ryan had returned! He was alive! Diana was overwhelmed with emotion. She embraced him and wept for a long time. When she heard Carissa recount Ryan's experiences, the pain in her heart was so overwhelming that she fainted.