Gerald’s weathered face went pale with shock.

“Mr. Howard, you can’t…”

Howard didn’t even glance back. As he left, he tossed one last warning at the Lloyds.

“I’ve said what I needed to say. If Rachel doesn’t come crawling to me within a week to apologize, your family can start preparing for bankruptcy.”

“Mr. Howard…”

Gerald gripped his cane, trying to follow, but his age betrayed him–he couldn’t keep up. Once Howard was gone, the living room fell silent.

Sasha turned to Gerald, smug as ever.

“See? I told you, Rachel’s nothing but a curse. If you’d just listened to me and cut ties with her earlier, would Howard have ever come after the Lloyds?”

Gerald’s head throbbed. Rubbing at the few strands of hair left on his scalp, he snapped, “Do you really need to rub salt in the wound? This whole house is in ruins because of you! Tell me this–where’s Yvette? I haven’t seen her around these past few days.”

At that, Sasha’s smile grew sly, almost triumphant.

“Why don’t you ask your precious eldest granddaughter what she’s been up to–like how she managed to get her own little sister thrown into a police station.”

Gerald froze.

“What are you talking about?”

Sasha, savoring every second, painted the story of Rachel and Yvette in the most damning light possible, piling exaggeration on top of accusation.

Gerald sat there, her words pouring into his ears like poison, every phrase hitting him harder than the last. The room seemed to spin. Before Sasha could even finish, his world went dark, and he collapsed onto the floor.

Startled, Sasha screamed.

“Old man!”

Rachel and Tyler had barely returned to the hotel when her phone rang. It was Jim.

“Rachel, can you come to the hospital? Your grandfather fainted. He’s been admitted,” Jim said in a panic.

Hearing that Gerald had been admitted, her heart clenched with guilt. Could this be because of her?

She steadied herself enough to ask, “Which hospital?”

“The same one I’m at. Sasha brought him in.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Ending the call, Rachel turned to Jerry. “Jerry, take me to the hospital first.”

“Got it.”

Although she didn’t like Gerald much, the thought that he might have collapsed because of her left a heaviness in her chest. The last thing she wanted was to shoulder more blame.

Tyler, noticing her expression, leaned back with arms crossed. His tone was casual and almost dismissive. “You didn’t argue with him. If anyone takes the blame, it’ll be me. Not you.”

It wasn’t the gentlest way to comfort someone, but Rachel could see through it. This was his way of shielding her. He was taking the weight onto himself. Strangely enough, it warmed her.

She studied him quietly. He looked steadier now than he had earlier, but there was still an undeniable weariness about him.

“Why don’t you go back to the hotel and rest?”

“No. I’m coming with you.”

“But you look exhausted.”

“And whose fault do you think that is?”

To anyone else, it might’ve sounded like a simple remark, but Rachel could feel the deliberate sting in it.

She pursed her lips and gave him the side-eye.

“Shut up!”