Chapter 4
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As I left the hospital, my phone rang. Alex.
"Emma, Grandmother's been hospitalized. You need to come right away."
His voice was tense and demanding.
I gripped the steering wheel tightly. "What happened?"
"Do you need to ask?" He was practically scolding me. "What you said to Grandmother triggered a heart attack."
"Just come and apologize," he snapped. "And don't make things worse."
After hanging up, he texted the hospital address. I took a deep breath and drove there.
Following a nurse's directions, I found the cardiology ward.
In the hallway, Alex spoke with a doctor while Sophia stood nearby, eyes strategically reddened.
When Alex saw me, his expression softened slightly.
"How is she?" I asked.
"Stable for now," he replied. "The doctor says she can't have any more emotional shocks."
Sophia approached, her voice honey-sweet. "Emma, please be gentler with Grandmother. She's elderly..."
I ignored her and walked straight to the hospital room.
Alex followed, with Sophia right on his heels.
The old lady lay in bed, appearing frailer but with eyes still sharp as daggers. Her mouth turned down when she saw me.
"Why are you here?"
"I heard you were hospitalized," I said evenly. "So I came to see you."
Alex stood beside me. "Emma came to apologize, Grandma."
I glanced at him once, then addressed the old lady. "I'm sorry about your condition."
The old lady sneered. "You call that an apology?"
"I have nothing to apologize for," I met her gaze steadily. "I was simply standing my ground."
Alex's expression darkened. "Emma, we discussed this."
"No, Alex," I corrected him. "That's what you said. I never agreed to apologize."
The old lady's face turned ashen. "Look at the kind of woman you've married, Alex! Disrespectful, stubborn, ungrateful!"
"Mrs. Reed," I said calmly, "I respect your position as Alex's grandmother, but that doesn't mean I'll accept mistreatment."
"Mistreatment?" Her voice rose. "The Reed family gave you everything—a privileged life—and you call that unfair?"
"I don't need the Reed family's charity," I replied. "I have my own career and income."
Sophia interjected softly. "Emma, Grandmother isn't well. Could you please..."
"Be quiet," I cut her off, my voice low but razor-sharp. "This is between Mrs. Reed and me."
Sophia immediately assumed a wounded expression, tears welling on command.
Alex glared at me. "Emma! How dare you speak to Sophia that way?"
"Why shouldn't I?" I shot back. "Because she's the Reed family's precious darling? Because she's supposedly more suitable for you?"
The old lady cut in. "At least she knows how to respect her elders!"
"Respect is earned, Mrs. Reed," I replied. "For seven years, you've never shown me any."
"Enough!" Alex shouted. "Emma, what's gotten into you?"
I looked at him, suddenly bone-weary. "I'm done pretending, Alex."
"Pretending what?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"Pretending I belong in the Reed family. Pretending I accept the constant disrespect. Pretending I don't see what's happening between you and Sophia."
Sophia began to sob. "I only see Alex as a brother..."
"Shut up, Sophia." This time it was Alex speaking, his voice weary. "Don't make this worse."
The old lady's chest heaved dramatically. "I've always said she's wrong for you, Alex! She brings nothing but conflict and discord!"
"You're right. I don't fit in with the Reed family," I admitted calmly. "I never have."
The old lady sat bolt upright, jabbing a finger toward the door. "Get out! I never want to see you again!"
Alex tried to intervene. "Grandmother, please calm down..."
"No, Alex," the old lady cut him off. "I want you to choose right now—this woman or your family!"
The room fell deathly silent. I looked at Alex, waiting for his answer.
He looked tormented. "Grandmother, please don't do this..."
"Answer me!" the old lady demanded.
Alex closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I love Emma, but I also love my family. I can't choose."
The old lady sneered. "Then I'll choose for you—divorce! I want you to divorce her!"
Before Alex could respond, I spoke. "I agree."
All three stared at me in shock.
"What?" Alex asked, disbelieving.
"I said I agree to divorce," I repeated, my voice steady and resolute.
Alex's expression morphed from shock to anger. "What kind of game are you playing?"
"This isn't a game," I replied evenly.
"You think this will get my attention?" he sneered. "Don't be childish, Emma."
I met his gaze silently. My lack of response only fueled his anger.
"You really think you can leave me?" he said with cruel sarcasm. "Don't forget who helped you when you had nothing. Without me, you are nothing."
His words cut deep, but I kept my expression neutral.
"I know you love me, Emma." His tone softened, brimming with arrogance. "You're just being stubborn. When you calm down, you'll remember we belong together."
The old lady interrupted. "Alex, she's made herself clear. Stop wasting time."
"Shut up, Grandma!" Alex suddenly shouted—the first time I'd ever heard him speak to her that way.
The room fell silent. The old lady stared at her golden grandson in shock.
Alex turned to me, his voice low. "Emma, let's go home and talk."
"There's nothing to discuss," I said. "I'll contact a lawyer about divorce papers."
"You can't just decide this!" He grabbed my arm. "This is our marriage!"
I pulled free from his grip. "Yes, it is our marriage. And I've decided to end it."
"You're angry, Emma." He tried to placate me. "I get it. But divorce isn't something you throw around when you're upset."
"I'm not upset," I said, meeting his gaze directly. "I've never been more clear-headed."
"You can't possibly not love me," he said with infuriating confidence. "We've been together seven years."
"Seven years is enough to truly know someone," I replied. "And enough time for love to die."
Alex's expression faltered. "You can't be serious."
I turned and walked toward the door.
"Emma!" he shouted after me. "If you walk out that door, don't think about coming back!"
Without looking back, I walked straight out.
