Frustration bubbled within Samuel, and he slammed his fist against the steering wheel, causing both Laura and Tina to jump in surprise.
“Enough! Just stop! Are you trying to make me even angrier?” he snapped, his voice rising.
Tina, bewildered by his sudden outburst, felt a wave of irritation wash over her. “Dad, this is so unfair! It’s obviously Whit’s fault, so why are you directing your anger at us?” she shot back, her voice rising in protest.
“You should be furious with Whit, not us!” Tina huffed, crossing her arms defiantly.
*Where’s Whit?* Samuel pondered, his mind racing. *Oh right, she just told James she was heading to the hospital.*
His eyes narrowed, determination setting in.
“Enough. We’re all going to the hospital. My mom is sick, and none of you have even bothered to visit her,” Samuel declared firmly.
Tina forced a smile, though her displeasure was evident. “Fine.”
*What’s so special about some old woman?* she thought disdainfully.
*Just a stroke? If only she had died, that would have been perfect,* Tina sneered inwardly.
Whitney entered Patricia’s hospital room, her heart heavy as she took in the sight of her grandmother lying still. The doctor assured her that Patricia’s vital signs were stable, but the prognosis was grim; she wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon.
“Prepare three liquid meals a day for her, and don’t forget to pick up some protein supplements,” the doctor instructed, his voice clinical yet compassionate.
Since Patricia was unconscious, she couldn’t eat normally and required nourishment through a tube. The doctor explained that she needed extra protein to maintain her nutrition.
Whitney quickly scribbled down the instructions, her mind racing as she prepared to gather what was needed.
She had already taken a week off from the law firm, planning to monitor Patricia’s condition closely. Once her grandmother regained consciousness and stabilized, Whitney intended to bring her home and hire a caregiver to assist her. This way, she could visit Patricia daily, ensuring she wasn’t alone.
In just one night, Whitney had mapped out a comprehensive care plan for Patricia.
The absurdity of it all struck her-Samuel had made only a fleeting appearance the night before, and then he was gone again.
Just as Whitney was about to head back to gather supplies for Patricia, she spotted Samuel, Laura, and Tina stepping out of the elevator, their expressions somber.
“Whit, why did you rush off so quickly? Why didn’t you wait for us?” Tina complained, her tone laced with irritation.
*This is so unfair. She even caught a free ride with Klein. She totally got away with it,* Tina grumbled inwardly.
“I told you already. You don’t need to come to the hospital. I can handle Grandma myself. Just do everyone a favor and don’t upset her while she’s in that hospital bed, alright?” Whitney replied, her voice icy and resolute.
“What’s with your attitude? I’m your father, and she’s my mother. Why shouldn’t I be here?” Samuel retorted, his frustration bubbling over.
Whitney met his gaze, unfazed. “Oh, now you suddenly remember she’s your mom?”
“Don’t give me that attitude. Talk to me properly,” Samuel snapped, his voice rising.
His outburst attracted the attention of the head nurse, who approached with a stern expression. “Sir, this is a hospital. Keep your voice down. Don’t you know the rules?” she reprimanded.
Whitney pressed the elevator button, her patience wearing thin. “Just go, please. You can’t visit right now. Save it for when Grandma wakes up. I’m not in the mood to argue with you,” she insisted, standing her ground and blocking their path.
Laura tugged at Samuel’s sleeve, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Fine, if Whit doesn’t want us there, whatever. It’s not like Patricia ever cared about anyone but her anyway. She always doted on Whit.”
Laura genuinely couldn’t care less about entering that hospital room.
*Ugh, it just reeks of disinfectant in there. What’s the point?* she thought disdainfully.
*I’ll just show up when that old bat is about to croak,* Laura mused with a sneer.
“Hmph,” Samuel grunted, his expression conflicted.
He looked like he might relent, but he refused to let Whitney dictate the terms. Shooting her a hard glare, he demanded, “Come downstairs. We need to talk.”
Whitney maintained a blank expression, ushering them into the elevator before stepping in herself.
She had a million things to manage, and dealing with them was the last thing on her mind.
The elevator was now filled with only the four Moores.
“Whitney, you stirred up a mess with the Harris family today. Tomorrow, you’re going to apologize to them. That’s an order,” Samuel barked, his tone commanding.
Whitney raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with sarcasm. “And what if I don’t?”
“Then don’t even think about me covering your grandma’s medical bills,” Samuel shot back, a smug grin forming on his face.
Hospital bills for something as serious as this wouldn’t come cheap. *Let’s see how long she can hold onto this money,* Samuel thought, feeling a sense of triumph.
He believed that just because he controlled the finances at home, he could manipulate Whitney with threats.
“Alright, then I don’t need your money. I’ll pay for it myself,” Whitney retorted defiantly.
Tina scoffed, “Where are you even going to get the cash for those hospital bills? With that pathetic salary of yours? And now you’ve pissed off Carter too. What, are you going to start working the streets now?”
In a swift motion, Whitney slapped Tina hard across the face, the sound echoing in the confined space.
“Tina, when I’m speaking, you’d better keep your mouth shut. If all you can do is spew nonsense, I’ll gladly put you in your place myself, since your mom clearly won’t,” Whitney snapped, her voice filled with fury.
Tina trembled with rage. “Whitney, you hit me. You hit me again! Last time, you threw hot water at me, and now you’re hitting me. Mom, Dad, are you just going to let her get away with this?”
After Tina finished her tirade, the elevator doors slid open.
The lobby was packed, a sea of people waiting for their turn to ascend.
Whitney marched straight out, not even glancing back at her stunned family, leaving them utterly bewildered in her wake.
Tina and Laura stood there, mouths agape, processing what had just happened.
*What the hell? Did I just get slapped, and there’s nothing I can do about it?* Tina thought, her face burning with disbelief.
Sabrina and George trailed behind James as they made their way back to Harris Manor, a palpable tension hanging in the air like a thick fog.
As they stepped out of the chapel, a swarm of relatives and close friends surrounded them, their voices a cacophony of curiosity and concern. “What really happened at the wedding?” they clamored, eyes wide with intrigue.
Klein had already spilled the beans about Carter and Emily’s engagement, leaving Sabrina and George grappling with the weight of their silence. No matter how hard they tried to articulate the chaos of the day, the right words eluded them. All they could do was grit their teeth and remain tight-lipped, frustration simmering beneath the surface.
“Whitney was completely out of line,” Sabrina muttered under her breath, her scowl deepening as she recalled the scene. “Even if she was furious with Carter, she had no right to create such a spectacle on a day meant for celebration.”
In her mind, she replayed Whitney’s actions, a mother’s heart aching not just for her son but for Emily too. Although Emily was merely their adopted daughter, she had been cherished and pampered since childhood.
Sabrina felt justified in her opinions about Emily; after all, that was her prerogative. But what infuriated her was the audacity of outsiders to judge their family dynamics.
And truly, the gossip swirling around them was all thanks to Whitney’s reckless behavior.
“George, you can’t be seriously considering bailing out their company, can you?” Sabrina’s voice was laced with suspicion, her brow furrowing as she glanced at her husband.
George shook his head, exhaling a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world. “I’ll just toss them a bone, nothing too significant. Just enough to smooth things over,” he replied, his tone weary.
With the elite of society present that day, the Harris family had suffered a significant loss of face. It was no wonder George was seething with anger.
His frustration was directed at Whitney, yes, but even more so at her father, Samuel.
‘We had a deal, and now look at this chaos. How could I not be furious?’ George thought, the injustice of it all gnawing at him.
James, overhearing the escalating argument between George and Sabrina, felt a scowl deepen on his forehead, the veins standing out in sharp relief.
“So now you’re just going to blame everyone else for this mess?” he snapped, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
Lena, who had been standing quietly beside her grandfather, muttered under her breath, “Obviously, they are.”
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.