Amelia dropped her gaze, her fingers nervously twisting the fabric of her pants. "Grandpa, this is all on me. I should have been more careful with the sleeping pills."

Kevin didn't say a word. He simply looked away, then unfolded the note Dennis had left behind.

Just seeing that paper made Amelia's heart race. She glanced at Ethan, quietly signaling him to go and bring Dennis over.

Ethan got the message and quietly slipped out of the hospital room.

Amelia looked back at Kevin, who was gripping the thin sheet of paper with both hands, his face growing darker as he read.

She had been there the whole time Dennis wrote the note, feeding him the words, guiding his hand. The message was short, written in Dennis's messy, childish handwriting. There were even spots where his tears had smudged the ink, leaving little dark stains behind.

"I miss Mom. I miss Dad. Bad people took Mom away. I asked Grandpa to help me, but he wouldn't. He even hit me. I'm so sad I want to die..."

Kids, when they're scolded or hurt by adults, sometimes come up with these dramatic fantasies. They think if they act cold or run away, or even threaten something worse, it'll make the adults feel sorry and regret everything. Amelia knew this all too well, which was why she'd told Dennis to write, "If I die, will Grandpa regret not helping me find Mom?"

Kevin's face went rigid, and he started coughing hard.

Amelia rushed to pat his back, but he swatted her hand away.

The note went on, just as childish, listing out who'd get all of Dennis's toys and allowance. He wanted Grandpa to have his pocket money, since Grandpa always gave it to him, and the toys could go to Amelia and Ethan. If he was cremated, he wanted his ashes to go to Andrew, his dad, so he could decide what to do. At the end, he even said goodbye to the whole world, promising to meet everyone in his next life.

All through the note, Dennis's stubborn little temper showed. He was angry at Kevin for refusing to help, for hitting him, and he wanted to make sure Kevin really felt it If he couldn't get what he wanted he'd use the most dramatic way possible to fight back and take his grandpa regret it.

Kevin finished reading, his breathing coming fast and shaky. His hands trembled so much that it looked like he might collapse again.

Amelia moved closer, speaking softly as she rubbed his back. "Grandpa, please don't get so worked up. Try to stay calm. Dennis is safe now, he's okay. There's no need to get upset."

Kevin clenched his jaw. "That little brat," he muttered. "Threatening me with something like that... He's really gotten bold. What, I can't control him anymore?"

Amelia felt a heavy weight in her chest. Kevin didn't seem moved at all. He still wanted to keep his distance from Isabella.

She pressed her lips together and straightened the blanket around him. "I just had Ethan bring Dennis over. Grandpa, if you want to say something, you can talk to him yourself."

Kevin's face was still grim as he nodded. "I'll hear what he has to say.”

Amelia spoke softly. "Grandpa,

Dennis just tried to hurt himself.

He's probably not in a good place

right now. Please, just be gentle with

him Don't en

hip him. If he ties

to do something like this again,

don't know what we'll do."

Kevin gripped the note tightly. His eyes were cold and serious. "I know."