Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 1143

Owen felt a deep sense of gratitude toward his grandfather. It was one of the main reasons he had yet to deal with Jocelyn and her son.

Even though Leonard loved his eldest grandson and had high hopes for him, the old man’s core belief was that a harmonious family prospered. Because of that, he had fiercely protected Richard and Jocelyn—the people responsible for the death of Owen’s mother—along with Lawrence, who had repeatedly tried to destroy Owen.

Whenever Owen considered taking action against them, his grandfather would fight tooth and nail to stop him, even threatening to lay down his own life. And Owen simply couldn't bring himself to hurt the old man.

It wasn't until Mira provided him with her specialized medication that Leonard was finally settled safely out of the picture.

The car cruised toward a breathtaking valley. As they drew closer, a dense, lush forest appeared through the windows, framing rolling hills and a pristine lake.

Taking a deep breath of the crisp air, Mira couldn't help but sigh. "It's so beautiful. When can we move out here? Oh, we should bring Eleanor here too."

Owen's lips curved upward as he cast a sidelong glance at her. "What, looking to retire at nineteen?"

The vehicle moved slowly. Wildflowers gradually lined the road, and the chirping of birds grew closer and more melodic.

Unfamiliar, vibrant birds fluttered right past the car windows.

They could even hear the gentle hum of bees among the blossoms and watch butterflies dancing in the breeze.

"Oh, I don't care, I want to live here!" Mira yelled, her voice full of pure joy.

"Giving up on college? Abandoning the company?" Owen turned his head, biting his lower lip as he teased her.

"Who needs college? As for the company, I'll just hand it over to you. I want to stay here and enjoy life. I don't need much—just a billion or two. That'll last me a lifetime."

"In that case, we might as well hand the company over to professional managers so we can both live here together," Owen said with a soft laugh.

Mira looked Owen up and down playfully. "Not a bad idea. You've got the body and the looks. Keeping you around to keep me company sounds like a pretty good perk.

Permission granted."

She waved her hand dismissively, acting like a tyrannical queen.

Owen clenched his jaw, a wicked gleam in his eye. "Then how about we skip going back today? I can clock in for my new job tonight. Don't worry, I promise to wait on Miss Mercer hand and foot until she's completely satisfied."

The car pulled through the grand, beautifully designed gates of the sanatorium. A staff member immediately hurried over. "Mr. Lance! Here to see your grandfather again? He just finished eating and is playing chess with a few of the other gentlemen."

Following the staff member inside, they passed various elderly residents enjoying their convalescence. Some were taking leisurely walks, others were doing light stretches, and a few were sipping tea under the shade of massive oak trees.

Everyone, from the staff to the residents, spoke in hushed, soothing tones. It was as if they were afraid of startling the cicadas in the courtyard or disturbing the butterflies in the gardens. Even their footsteps were feather-light.

The entire facility radiated a sense of profound tranquility, elegance, and leisure.

The attendant guided Mira and Owen toward a small courtyard. From a distance, they could smell a faint, calming fragrance—a subtle blend of cedar, lavender, and white tea.

One deep breath was enough to make all their pent-up stress melt away.

"Check. That's a fatal move right there."

"Not necessarily—my rook is holding the line. Let's see where your king hides now!"