Jonathan instinctively reached out to grab me, but I dodged him before he could.
"Elise!" Jonathan snapped, his voiceced with anger.
Hearing themotion, Edward looked over.
"I haven''t dismissed her yet.
Why is she leaving?
"His tone was filled with anger and disdain.
I slowed my pace slightly but showed no intention of stopping.
Alicia quickly chimed in, "It''s okay, Mr.Ford Senior.
Ms.Sawyer must have been upset when she saw meing." Alicia seemed a bit put off, setting down the gift box in her hands.
"Sorry, Grandpa.
I''ll leave right away..." Edward immediately grabbed her, firmly saying, "Who would dare make you leave while I''m here?
"His cane struck the ground, making a sharp, echoing sound.
"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 aimed at me, though he didn''t say my name outright.
I shot him a disinterested nce and replied, "Then let her stay.
I wasn''t nning to stay anyway." With that, I turned and made my way toward the door.
Why would I stay when he was speaking to me so rudely?
Alicia said with a distressed tone, "I''m sorry, Grandpa.
I really 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 keep making it worse between them!" I scoffed, seeing Alicia y the perfect role of the innocent, virtuous victim.
I looked at herzily.
"If you really didn''t want to ruin our rtionship, you wouldn''t be here in the first ce.
What''s all this pretending now?
"Edward''s face turned pale with fury.
He looked at me like I was some kind of monster.
"Elise!
I once thought you were just petty and insignificant, but now I see you have no manners at all!
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!" nced over at them, and finally, my gazended on Jonathan.
With no emotion or hesitation, I turned and walked out.
Just as I reached the door, I suddenly felt my feet leave the ground.
Jonathan had swept me up in his arMs. "What are you doing?
"I eximed.
"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.
"
low and gravelly, tingedet
Voice dropped,
emotion I couldn''t quite
identify. . to
"He''s sick.
He doesn''t have much time left.
Please, just bear with it." I fell silent, caught off guard by his words.
The way Edward had looked earlier didn''t suggest anything close to someone on their deathbed.
Then, I remembered how Jonathan had mentioned I should stay here for a while.
He was Edward''s only grandson, who was doted on since childhood.
I could understand why he would want toe and take care of me.
But why did I have to stay?
However, I couldn''t quite understand why I had to be involved.
Did he think I had an obligation to stay by Edward''s side just because I was still
his wife?
Yet, the
hard Edward had seemed
mentally sharp just now made hard to believe he was near
his
end.
Seeing Jonathan''s serious expression, I fell silent.
"Since he looks down on me so much, I have no obligation to show him any
respect.
Even if he''s dying, it has nothing to do with me," I said calmly.
"Elise!" Jonathan snapped, gripping my wrist tightly.