Chapter 46
Charles had put all his strength into that slap. His chest heaved with rage as he stared down at Lucas.
“She’s been your sister for eighteen years, and you tried to bash her with that?” Charles snapped, his voice trembling. “Were you trying to kill her?”
Lucas froze. His eyes darted to the shattered ashtray on the floor, and realization hit. His face drained of color-he almost killed Emily.
Charles didn’t spare him another glance. He hurried to Emily, brushing Bob aside, and almost pulled her into a hug. His hand shook as he stroked her hair. “Don’t be scared, Emily. I’m here. You’re safe now.”
Emily looked fierce-wild, even-but all Charles felt was heartache. “This is his sweet, sunny girl. What happened to twist her into this?’ he thought.
His chest felt tight, like someone was squeezing his heart. “It’s my fault,” he choked out. “I didn’t protect you like I should
have.”
Charles’s voice cut through the haze in Emily’s head. Slowly, she came to her senses, and her jaws slackened.
Finally free, Sean yanked his arm back and scrambled away, as if afraid she’d lunge again.
Emily’s eyes drifted to Charles, slowly focusing. “Grandpa Charles,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, fragile, as if holding back years of unspoken pain.
After a long pause, all she could manage was a worried question. “Why are you here? Are you feeling okay?” The doctor had warned Charles not to leave the hospital.
Charles’s expression softened. “This is no time to worry about me.”
Two days earlier, Emily had promised to visit him in the hospital today. He’d rushed through his treatments and changed into clean clothes-all to make sure he wouldn’t stress her out.
But he’d waited and waited, and she never showed up. What was worse, he didn’t even have a way to contact her.
Emily never broke her promises to him. The waiting time had stirred up that old fear—the same one he’d felt when he’d lost her two years ago.
So he’d ignored the doctor’s warnings and told Bob to drive him home quickly, wanting to check on her himself.
Thank goodness I came back. Otherwise, Emily… Charles thought. Just thinking about what he’d walked in on made his hands shake.
This old man, who’d been tough as nails his whole life, couldn’t hold back the tears. He asked, “Silly girl, why didn’t you come to me when you were hurting? Are you in pain?”
Tears welled up in Emily’s eyes, but she forced a smile, even though it made her bruised cheek ache and throb. She shook her head firmly. “I’m fine,” she insisted. With Charles here, worrying over her, the pain actually seemed to be easing.
Charles saw her badly swollen cheek, and his heart ached. ‘My baby girl used to cry for ages over a tiny scrape on her hand. How could she not be hurting now?’ he thought.
Emily had already been beaten at the hotel and taken the hits Sean just delivered to her head. Now, as her emotions finally calmed, her body simply gave out. She fainted before she could say more.
1/3
Bob helped Charles stand, ready to leave. He didn’t even bother with the group standing there like nothing had happened.
Gale hadn’t expected Charles to ignore even him, especially with outsiders around. He quickly called out, “Dad,” as if trying to jog his memory.
Charles shot back, “Don’t call me that. You stood there and watched your daughter get bullied. I don’t have a son like you, heartless bastard!”
The words hit Gale like a slap. He flushed, humiliation burning in his checks.
Andrew, knowing his father’s temper, quickly intervened. “Grandpa, that’s not the whole story. Emily totally crossed the line.
“She hit Sean and bit his hand, refusing to let go. Lucas was just trying to stop the fight. He didn’t even hurt her. But Sean-
“Didn’t hurt her?” Charles’s barely contained rage flared. “If I’d gotten here a little later, do you think he wouldn’t have?”
Andrew froze. Anyone with half a brain could see that if Charles had arrived just a second later, that ashtray would’ve slammed into Emily’s head.
Hearing her most pride-worthy son being scolded, Emma couldn’t hold back. “It’s not like Lucas actually hit her,” she mumbled, her voice soft.
But in the tense silence-Helen even clamped a hand over Sean’s whimpering mouth-Emma’s words rang clear.
Charles stared at Emma in disbelief—how could a mother say something like that? He grabbed his chest, struggling to breathe, and then collapsed from pure anger.
In the split second before darkness swallowed him, he felt a wave of relief that Emily had passed out earlier. She’d always been close to Emma. Hearing that would’ve broken her heart.
No one saw it coming. They all rushed to help, but Bob stopped them. He’d been with Charles for decades and knew his temper. If these heartless people laid a hand on Charles, he’d wake up even angrier.
Bob ordered the guards to get both Charles and Emily to the hospital, then hurried to follow. Before he left, he glanced back at the crowd in the living room.
He’d lived with the Bennetts for years, but now, they felt like strangers. He couldn’t believe how blind they were to what was happening and how terribly they were treating Emily-the girl they’d watched grow up and lived with for eighteen years.
“You…” Bob shook his head, completely speechless. He let out a deep sigh and hurried off. He could only hope they’d regret this someday.
Charles had come and gone in a whirlwind. Everyone stood there, watching as the car disappeared.
Ever since Gale could remember, Bob had been by Charles’s side. Even though Bob was just a butler, the Bennetts treated him like family.
His last glance, like he was holding back something important, left everyone with a weird, unsettled feeling.
Lydia noticed the Bennetts’ tense stares and bit back a scowl, thinking, “The whole family is easy to manipulate, except for that stubborn old man. Even his freaking butler is a problem.
She took a deep breath to push down the anger in her chest. In the heavy silence, she spoke up, her voice slightly uncertain. “Grandpa hasn’t been home in two years. Why would he suddenly show up now?”
