Emily’s heart raced, confusion washing over her.
Wait, does she know I visited her grandma? Emily pondered, anxiety creeping in.
Carter, bewildered, noticed the unfriendly glint in Whitney’s eyes. “Why are you being so harsh towards her?” he demanded, his tone sharp.
Emily clung to Carter’s arm, her eyes pleading for understanding. “Carter, I think Whitney’s got me confused with someone else. I never went to see her grandma. You dropped me off at home yesterday, and I stayed in all night.”
“Whitney, stop putting all the blame on Emily. Maybe you should take a good look at your own issues for a change,” Carter countered, his voice rising in indignation.
Typically, if Carter ever dared to raise his voice at Whitney, his parents would rush to defend her and reprimand him. But after today, Whitney had effectively isolated herself from their protection.
Whitney couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Just as she opened her mouth to retort, James’ thunderous voice boomed across the room. “Carter, you ungrateful brat, shut your mouth!”
“James?” Sabrina interjected, her tone sharp with disbelief.
“Grandpa,” Carter protested, his voice rising in defiance.
“Enough! Just hearing you speak makes my skin crawl. Instead of blaming others, why don’t you take a good look at the mess you’ve created?” James snapped, his frustration palpable.
He pointed vehemently at the video playing on the screen. “Both of you, go apologize to Whitney. Now!”
This marriage was something James had vowed to honor in memory of his late wife; it was her dying wish. He had never anticipated things would unravel like this.
“Grandpa? Why should we be the ones apologizing?” Carter challenged, his tone defiant.
James glared at him, his eyes aflame with fury. “What, you think my words mean nothing anymore?”
‘Like hell I’m apologizing,’ Carter thought stubbornly, refusing to yield.
Without another word, he seized Emily’s delicate wrist and stormed off, leaving chaos in their wake.
James clutched his chest, his anger reaching a fever pitch. “George, just look at the son you and Sabrina raised. From now on, he’s no longer my grandson, and I never want to see him again.”
“Dad,” George called out, alarm flashing across his features as he saw James’ face flushed with rage. He and Sabrina quickly moved to help him sit down.
It took a considerable time for James to finally regain his composure.
He turned to Whitney, his gaze softening with remorse. “Whitney, I’m truly sorry. I’ve let you down.”
Whitney felt a pang of guilt wash over her. “James,” she replied softly, her heart momentarily touched.
But that feeling faded as quickly as it came.
Her expression darkened as she recalled her grandmother still in the hospital. “James, I need to get back to the hospital. My grandma suffered a stroke yesterday. I have to leave now.”
James was momentarily taken aback. “Patricia was doing fine. How could she suddenly have a stroke?”
Whitney scoffed, “Who knows? It’s strange. Right after Emily visited, my grandma had a stroke.”
As soon as those words left her lips, a collective tension gripped the room.
James’ sharp gaze flickered dangerously.
‘It’s always Emily,’ he thought, frustration boiling within him.
“Go on, Whitney. I’ll visit Patricia at the hospital tomorrow,” James said softly, his voice steady.
He gestured towards Klein. “Make sure Whitney gets to the hospital safely.”
Klein’s eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement, a smirk tugging at his lips. “No problem. Whitney, let’s get going.”
For a fleeting moment, Whitney felt her heart race.
“Alright,” she replied, striving to maintain her composure.
Lena blinked, a pout forming on her lips. “Grandpa, why aren’t you letting me take her?”
Whitney slipped into the plush interior of Klein’s Maybach, feeling a twinge of awkwardness settle in her stomach. The absence of a driver made the space feel more intimate, but it also amplified her discomfort. Had her recent outburst at the wedding cast a shadow over their interaction, or was it something else entirely?
“You’re driving today?” she ventured, trying to break the silence that hung thick between them.
“Yeah,” Klein replied, his voice smooth and relaxed as he settled into the driver’s seat. “Marco took the day off. His wife’s having a baby.”
Whitney’s mind raced. *Marco? Isn’t he like in his forties or fifties? Really? Another kid at that age?* The thought made her momentarily forget her surroundings.
“Oh, I see,” she murmured, her gaze dropping to her hands, which were nervously fidgeting in her lap.
A moment stretched between them, filled with unspoken words. Klein remained still, his attention seemingly elsewhere, lost in thought.
“Aren’t you going to drive?” Whitney finally asked, breaking the silence that felt increasingly heavy.
In a sudden, unexpected movement, she felt his fingers glide across her stomach, the chill of his touch sending a shiver through her. Whitney inhaled sharply, her body frozen in place, unsure how to react.
“I’ll drive, but first, you need to buckle up,” Klein instructed, his tone shifting to a more serious note.
Anxiety bubbled up within Whitney, and as she shifted in her seat, she accidentally tugged at her wound.
“Does it hurt?” Klein’s eyes flickered to the bandage, concern etched across his features.
She nodded slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. “A little.”
*Physical pain was manageable,* Whitney thought, *but if something were to happen to Grandma… I don’t know how I would cope with that.*
Klein’s expression turned grave. “You shouldn’t be out here with bare shoulders. You’re still healing. You need to keep warm.”
He realized, almost too late, how paternal he sounded, and a hint of embarrassment crept into his demeanor.
He glanced at Whitney, trying to soften his words. “What I’m saying is… with a fracture, it’s crucial to stay warm.”
Whitney didn’t question how he knew about her injury; she simply nodded, her thoughts clouded by worry. Right now, her mind was solely focused on Patricia and her recovery.
The drive to the hospital was enveloped in silence, a quiet that felt like a blanket over them. When they finally arrived, Klein’s eyes remained fixed on Whitney as she ascended the steps, his gaze unwavering.
She declined his offer to accompany her, and Klein couldn’t help but wonder, *Is she regretting the scene she caused at the wedding?*
Meanwhile, Marco had taken a brief stroll nearby, but upon returning, he was met with an astonishing sight-Klein’s car was missing.
In a panic, he dialed Klein’s number. “Mr. Harris, I think someone stole your car!” he exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency.
Klein pressed his lips together, disbelief washing over him. “No way.”
“I’m serious! I stepped out for just a minute, and when I came back, it was gone. Should I call the police?” Marco blurted out, confusion etched on his face.
*Who would steal a car in broad daylight right outside a fancy hotel?* he thought, incredulous.
Klein glanced at the empty space where his car had been parked. “No one stole it. I drove it myself.”
“Take the rest of the day off, Marco. And please, lay off the soap operas,” Klein added, shaking his head in disbelief.
The line went dead, leaving Marco in a state of utter bewilderment.
Meanwhile, Samuel had barely settled back into his car when his phone erupted with calls from relatives, all clamoring for details about the chaotic wedding scene.
“Mom, Whit completely lost it. How could she call off the wedding in front of everyone? And she even went after Emily! Emily’s the Harris family’s darling princess,” Tina relished, her voice dripping with disdain.
Laura observed Samuel’s expression darken as he engaged in the conversation, but she felt compelled to add fuel to the fire. “Tell me about it. Even if the Harris family claims they won’t retaliate, being humiliated like that in public? Who could just brush it off?”
“They might act all sweet on the surface, but who knows what underhanded tactics they’re plotting behind our backs?” Laura continued, her tone conspiratorial.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.