Chapter 28
I shook my head, feeling a dull ache inside.
Fragments of mocking voices echoed in my mind.
“How could someone from such a humble background possibly be a match for the Ford family?”
“Jonathan is the brightest young man in all of Harthville. He could marry a princess if he wanted, yet he chose an ordinary student?”
“Alicia’s grandfather was my comrade in arms, and before he died, he entrusted his granddaughter to me. He’s the pride of our family. Only he is fit to take care of her!”
“Who does Elise think she is? Alicia is the heir I painstakingly groomed. Elise doesn’t deserve that role!”
Those words kept looping in my head, spinning like a storm I couldn’t escape.
A sharp jolt of pain surged through me, making me stumble slightly.
Jonathan caught me just in time, steadying me with a hand. He looked at me with a hint of concern. Though his eyes were so guarded, it was impossible to tell what he was really thinking.
I wondered if he was worried. However, I quickly shook off that thought. He likely wasn’t concerned about me. He was probably just afraid that I would embarrass him in front of his grandfather, Edward Ford.
I took a deep breath, straightening myself up.
Jonathan leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Greet him.”
I opened my mouth and said, “Good day, Mr. Ford Senior.”
The moment the words left my lips, a collective gasp echoed through the room.
The butler, especially, looked at me in shock.
Jonathan’s expression darkened as he frowned. “Call him Grandpa,” he said firmly.
When I didn’t respond, he leaned in and repeated his command in my ear.
I pursed my lips, unwilling to comply.
Edward let out a cold snort. “Forget it then. You’re so petty!”
The insult stung, and my face flushed with anger.
Even though I couldn’t remember him, something about him struck a nerve. That gut feeling couldn’t be
wrong.
He must have always been harsh with me. That was probably why I was so afraid.
What surprised me most was that my instinctive reaction to him was fear–not irritation or impatience
I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person I had been turned into after all these years of marriage to
Jonathan.
Faced with someone who so clearly disrespected me and didn’t even try to hide his contempt, my gut reaction wasn’t anger or disgust. It was fear.
Just as I intended to say I was fine and ready to leave, Alicia’s cheerful voice rang out from across the
room.
“Mr. Ford Senior, I’m sorry I’m late.”
I turned toward the sound and saw Alicia standing at the doorway, though I hadn’t even noticed when she had arrived.
Dressed in a pink dress, she walked in gracefully, carrying a bundle of neatly wrapped gifts.
Edward’s expression noticeably softened the moment he saw her. “Alicia, you’re here,” he said warmly.
His affectionate tone was worlds apart from how he spoke to me.
Jonathan glanced over and frowned slightly. Then, he lowered his eyes and gave me a quick look.
That look carried a warning.
I stared right back. “What are you looking at me for?” I snapped.
Jonathan said nothing. He simply pulled me closer and whispered in my ear, “Don’t upset Grandpa.”
I scoffed and shrugged off his arm. “Did you not see?” I said coolly. “He’s been picking on me this whole time. The fact that I didn’t just walk out shows more respect than he deserves.”
Jonathan said nothing, but instead, he stared at me as if I were a stranger.
After a long pause, he finally said, “You weren’t like this before.”
“And what was I like before?” I asked, shrugging.
I glanced over at Edward and Alicia, who were chatting happily. “It’s obvious he wants Alicia to be his granddaughter–in–law. Why should I go out of my way for that?”
With that, I turned and walked away.
Chapter 29
