Chapter 699

“Cough… cough—cough, cough…!” Grandpa Whales said nothing. His frail body convulsed as a violent coughing fit seized him, each rasping breath sounding as though it might be his last. Linet watched from where she stood, her gaze lowered—yet devoid of warmth. There was no concern in her eyes, only cold impatience. At last, the coughing subsided. Grandpa Whales slowly lifted his head to look at her again. Though his eyes were dim with age, a piercing sharpness still lingered within them. “I’m not joking,” he said hoarsely. “Linet… there are matters you have no right to decide.” “What do you mean by that, Father?” Linet’s brows drew together, an inexplicable sense of unease creeping into her chest. But Grandpa Whales had already turned away from her. His gaze shifted, settling firmly on Simon. The old man’s expression grew solemn, his voice low and weighty. “You know what needs to be done…” Simon met his grandfather’s eyes without hesitation and gave a firm, decisive nod. If the old man we