Elijah's pov ;
I waited anxiously outside the ward, pacing back and forth. Just a few days ago, the doctor had said Grandma was fully recovered. Now, everything felt like it was twisting out of control.
"Elijah, don't worry," Samantha put a hand on my shoulder. "She's strong. She'll pull through this."
I sighed, rubbing my face with my hands. "I just don't get it. She was fine. The doctor said she was fine."
After a long sigh she began to speak again. "I wonder if Ash said something to her. You know…how he can be when he's upset. Maybe…he told her about the divorce in a way that upset her. But I could be wrong…you know because why would he do something like that. He cares for grandma. Still…who knows."
I looked at her, frowning. "He knows how much Grandma means to me. He wouldn't deliberately say something to hurt her after I warned her.
Her eyes widened as she stumbled over her words. "Of course, I didn't mean to imply that. But you know how emotional Ash can get. He might have said…something without thinking. Especially since he saw us together..."
Before I could respond, the doctor emerged from the ward. "Mr. Stone?" he addressed me.
"Yes, doctor. How is she?" I asked, my voice thick with worry.
The doctor sighed. "She has a heart attack. We managed to stabilise her for now but her condition is still critical. Given her history, this could have been triggered by any significant emotional or physical stress."
My heart sank. "Is she going to be okay?"
"We're doing everything we can," he assured me. "But I need to ask, did she receive any shocking news or experience something highly stressful recently? With her weak heart, even a small shock could trigger such an episode."
Samantha quickly added, "Doctor, I think she might have heard something really upsetting from someone she really loves. Can it be the cause?"
The doctor nodded, a frown deepening on his face. "That could very well be a contributing factor. It's crucial she isn't exposed to any further stress."
I saw red. Ash…did he do it? The same Ash who had already taken my parents away from me? Now, he wanted to take my Grandma away too?
Raw anger, disbelief, and disappointment flooded my senses. My vision blurred as red-hot rage consumed me. I was trembling with wrath.
How could he be so foolish? So vicious? Who wouldn't believe that he had done it intentionally, out of spite. The very idea that he could cause Grandma such distress made me feel sick to my stomach. I couldn't believe I had ever trusted him, let alone cared for him.
Samantha came to my side again grabbing my hand. "Elijah, I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. But please, don't say anything to Ash. He's already been through so much. If you want to punish someone, punish me instead. I can take it."
I yanked my hand away from her, feeling extremely irritated by her touch. Also, why would she have to be punished for his sinister brother's evil deeds?
She continued, "I just can't believe Ash would be so careless. But it's not his fault entirely. He's been through a lot too in the past and even now. Maybe he didn't realise the impact of his words. He could be so ignorant and arrogant sometimes but as his elder sister I have taken care of his every mistake."
"Samantha, this isn't about you," I snapped, pushing her away. "This is about Ash and his constant need to destroy everything good in my life."
She looked down, tears welling up in her eyes. "I understand. I just…I hate seeing you in so much pain. I wish there was something I could do to help you. Just tell me and I will do everything I can."
I couldn't speak. I couldn't think straight. The rage and betrayal I felt were overwhelming. Ash had crossed a line, and it was time he faced the consequences of his actions.
I muttered emotionlessly, "Why would he do that?" I was talking to myself, but Samantha thought I was asking her.
"Elijah," she began, her voice trembling with emotion. "Ash is not normal. He doesn't feel emotions like pity. I don't want to expose him to you but it's possible that he intentionally told Grandma so that she could…die." She gasped and cried, resting her head on my arm. "I should have told you about the level of Ash's anger. But he's still not innocent and pure in my eyes even though he always wanted me dead. When we were kids, he tried to kill me just because he was angry. He pushed me down the window once, and I had to lie to everyone, saying I tripped. He's always had this dark side."
I listened, my mind a storm of conflicting thoughts. Ash did something like this? But why am I surprised now? I was always under the impression that he couldn't even hurt a bee, but that's how clever he is. He purposely brainwashed me with his soft nature.
"And that's not all," she continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. "There was this one time he set fire to our neighbor's shed just because their dog barked at him. The poor family lost everything. And he used to hurt animals, too. I remember finding dead birds and squirrels in the backyard, and he would just stand there, watching, without a trace of remorse."
She paused, her eyes wide and filled with tears. "Elijah, he's always had this darkness in him. He manipulated our parents, played the victim whenever he got caught. They never believed me. He's dangerous, Elijah. I didn't want to believe it myself all this time, but now..."
"No matter how wicked he was, he crossed all lines this time," I thought to myself. Grandma's life hung in the balance because of his recklessness.
Samantha sobbed softly against my arm. How come both siblings are so different? One is so pure-hearted and the other is a pure bully.
"Elijah, I don't want to see you suffer because of him anymore. He's always been a trouble maker. Maybe…maybe it's time to let him go. Forget about him and don't think about bringing him back to your life as he wants. Maybe then, he will stop doing all this."
No! He has to face the consequences. There was no way around it. He had pushed me too far this time.
"Grandma!" And speaking of the devil, Ash showed up, with his oscar winning acting, huffing and crying badly.
Behind him was his backup boy, who kept comforting him. As soon as Ash saw me, he came running and asked about Grandma.
I didn't answer, just kept staring at him, my mind a vortex of anger and disbelief. Ash gulped and asked again.
"S-Say something…how is grandma—!"
"Did you say anything to her before she collapsed?" I asked coldly, cutting him off.
And prayed that he would deny it because I don't know what I would do if he confirmed my worst fears.
He didn't answer, his eyes darting nervously. My anger overflowed, and I gritted my teeth, aggressively gripping his arms and pulling him closer to meet my eyes. He gasped, squeezing his eyes shut in pain.
"ANSWER ME!"
"You're hurting him!" Noah tried to interfere, but I growled at him to get back.
"Back.off," I said one word at a time as my eyes burned.
Ash didn't struggle in my grip, surprisingly, and with a painful voice he told Noah not to come between us. "I'm f-fine, Noah…." he stuttered.
Then, turning to me, he said, "I told Grandma…I told her that our divorce is real."
I lost it. I threw him violently in hopes that he would get hurt but Noah caught him.
"Why did you do it after I asked you not to tell her?!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the hallway.
"I..I didn't mean to hurt her!" he cried out, tears streaming down his face. "I just couldn't lie to her anymore. She deserves to know the truth, Elijah! She's family to me too. I love her!"
"Twice. You have landed her in hospital twice," I walked closer to him, squeezing his jaw hard. "Whatever happens to you from now, it's on you," I warned heartlessly.
I backed off slightly from him and glared directly in his eyes which trembled back at me.
"I'll make sure you suffer for the rest of your miserable life."