Chapter 29

Jonathan instinctively reached for me, but I evaded him. “Elise!” he snapped, his voice laced with anger. Edward, alerted by the commotion, looked over. “I haven’t dismissed her yet. Why is she leaving?” His tone was sharp with anger and disdain. I slowed slightly but showed no intention of stopping.

Alicia quickly interjected, “It’s okay, Mr. Ford Senior. Ms. Sawyer must have been upset seeing me arrive.” She seemed slightly flustered, setting down her gift box. “Sorry, Grandpa. I’ll leave right away…”

Edward immediately seized her. “Who would dare make you leave while I’m here?” he declared firmly, his cane striking the ground with a sharp echo. “This is my home. I promised your grandfather that wherever I am, it will always be your home too. If anyone is leaving, it’s her!” His words were clearly directed at me.

I gave him a disinterested glance. “Then let her stay. I wasn’t planning to remain anyway.” With that, I turned towards the door. Why should I stay when he was so rude?

Alicia said, distressed, “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I truly didn’t mean to. I don’t want to see you two arguing. Things have already been tense between them because of Jonathan and me these past few days. I can’t make it worse!”

I scoffed, recognizing Alicia’s performance of innocent victimhood. “If you truly didn’t want to ruin our relationship, you wouldn’t be here. What’s this pretense now?”

Edward’s face paled with fury. He glared at me as if I were a monster. “Elise! I once thought you were merely petty and insignificant, but now I see you are utterly without manners! You don’t deserve to be part of this family!”

I scoffed. “What a joke of a family. I don’t care about belonging to it!” My gaze finally settled on Jonathan. Without hesitation, I turned and walked out.

Just as I reached the door, I was lifted off my feet. Jonathan had swept me into his arms. “What are you doing?” I exclaimed. “Put me down! Didn’t you hear how your grandfather spoke to me?”

Jonathan gave me a heavy, unreadable look. “That’s just how he is. Besides…” His voice softened, becoming low and gravelly, tinged with an emotion I couldn't decipher. “He’s sick. He doesn’t have much time left. Please, just bear with it.”

I fell silent, taken aback. Edward’s demeanor hadn’t suggested anything close to a deathbed. Then, I recalled Jonathan’s earlier suggestion that I stay. He was Edward’s only grandson, a childhood favorite. I understood his desire to care for him. But why did I have to stay? Did he believe I had an obligation to remain at Edward’s side simply because I was his wife? Yet, Edward’s mental acuity earlier made his imminent demise hard to believe.

Seeing Jonathan’s serious expression, I said calmly, “Since he despises me so much, I have no obligation to show him respect. Even if he’s dying, it’s none of my concern.”

“Elise!” Jonathan snapped, gripping my wrist tightly.