Chapter 489

"Dad, look at how stubborn you're being!" Ryan Wallace chuckled as soon as he stepped inside, seeing the old man's back turned to the door.

The old man's obstinacy made him seem like a petulant child throwing a tantrum.

Ryan pulled up a chair beside the bed and absentmindedly tucked the blanket tighter around his father.

"You need to focus on getting better. Let me tell you, your little granddaughter is an absolute delight—soft and rosy-cheeked, just like a little dumpling." Ryan took out his phone and flipped to a picture of his daughter. "Look at those big eyes. She's definitely got the Wallace genes."

"Hmph!" The old man abruptly turned his head away. "What's so special about a girl?"

Eleanor Wallace promptly smacked her husband on the back.

"You old fool!" She snatched the phone from Ryan, caressing the screen with tender affection. "Oh, my precious darling, how Grandma has missed you!"

Ryan stood up with a smile. "Little brother, let's go grab some food. Dad can only eat soft things right now—I'll make him some broth."

Just as Ethan was about to follow, his wife, Laura, pinched him hard on the arm.

"Ow!" Ethan winced but didn't dare protest, slinking out the door after his older brother.

Laura stomped her foot in frustration. That spineless coward—couldn’t even speak up when it mattered!

Eleanor watched her younger daughter-in-law's reaction with clear understanding. This family—it was time for a division.

"Old man," Eleanor said, wringing out a warm towel to wipe her husband’s face, "once you're fully recovered, let's go stay with Ryan in the city for a while. As for the house and land here, we should divide them among the children sooner rather than later."

The old man's eyes flew open. "Divide the family?"

"Yes," Eleanor sighed. "The children are all grown now, with their own lives and plans. At our age, we shouldn’t stand in their way."

The old man stared at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling rapidly, but said nothing.

Eleanor patiently wiped his hands. "Ethan lost money raising pigs, but haven’t Ryan and the others made something of themselves out there? As they say, every generation must find its own path."

The old man let out a heavy grunt and turned away again.

Eleanor wasn’t bothered. After spending time in the city, she had come to understand what a peaceful life truly meant. Ryan and his wife treated each other with respect—that kind of harmony mattered far more than first or second marriages ever could.

She had a feeling that once the old man laid eyes on that rosy-cheeked little granddaughter of theirs, all his resentment would melt away. That child was pure sunshine.

As for dividing the family—better now than later. Before the brothers turned against each other, it was best to settle everything cleanly. After that, they could each go their own way in peace.

Eleanor gazed out the window at the falling leaves and sighed softly. A family was like a great tree—sooner or later, its branches had to spread apart.