CHAPTER 13

I looked at Grandma, her stern eyes brooking no arguments. I knew her decision was final. I was the puppet after all, and I didn't want this to linger any longer.

For peace to reign, I began going on my knees slowly, the cold floor graced my skin mockingly. I turned to face Chloe, whose lips curled into a snug smile despite the fake tears in her eyes. Her smile felt like a slap on my face.

I couldn't take it anymore. I was halfway down my knees. The injustice of it all burned in my chest. I suddenly felt stupid. I was no longer a child to be pushed over by Chloe and Grandma.

I immediately straightened myself back up and turned to Grandma. She cocked her brows, confused as to why I wasn't adhering to her order.

"Didn't you hear what I said, Elizabeth?" Grandma's eyes burned with fury as she spoke.

"No, Grandma. I won't do it," I replied.

Grandma's eyes widened in shock. "What did you say?"

"I said no," I repeated, my voice stronger than the last. "I'm done apologizing for things I didn't do. Chloe is lying, and deep down, you know it."

"How dare you!" Grandma shouted, raising her hand to slap me. I caught her fragile wrist, holding it firmly but gently.

"Grandma, please. I have had enough. I can no longer let you hit me. We're no longer children. You're always taking Chloe's side. I know you don't consider me worthy of being your granddaughter, but can you at least be fair in your judgment?" I let out, my voice firm and cold.

Chloe gasped in shock, her act crumbled instantly. "Elizabeth, let go of Grandma!" she called out rudely as if I was hurting Grandma.

I turned to face Chloe in disgust. Realizing I was still holding Grandma's hand, I released her wrist and took two steps back, bowing my head apologetically as I watched Grandma's face turn pale with fury and disbelief.

"You ungrateful child," she spat. "After everything I've done for you." " I allowed you into the Douglas household.

"Everything you've done for me?" I echoed, letting out a soft chuckle of pain. She was resulting in emotional blackmail, as usual, using the family's name.

"You've done nothing but remind me that I'm an outsider, that I'm not truly part of this family. You have done nothing but remind me I'm a stain to the Douglas family name. You have done nothing but make my life a living hell. Grandma, you made me a constant shadow of myself." My voice became unsteady as I tried to conceal my pain

"But right now, I'm done living in fear. I'm done bending to your every demand, and most importantly, I'm done being Chloe's scapegoat." I turned to face Chloe, who was standing there, mouth wide open at my sudden courage. I was too.

She stood still with her eyes wide open in dismay.

"How dare you speak to Grandma in such a manner," she said, her voice no longer putting up a facade. "You're just making things worse for yourself, Elizabeth."

"Maybe I am," I said, turning to face her. "But at least I'm standing up for myself. And one day, the truth will come out."

"Get out," Grandma hissed. "Get out of this office. I don't want to see you ever again, you witch!"

I felt a pang of sadness from her words, but I was glad to speak up. I sighed defeatedly. I knew nothing I was going to say would make a difference after all. Without muttering another word, I turned, dragging my feet which seemed heavy towards the door. I could feel their foul eyes pierce through my skin.

Suddenly, I heard a thud behind me. I turned to see Grandma collapsing to the floor, her eyes closed.

"Grandma!" My voice echoed across the room in fear as I rushed back to her. Chloe screamed, this time with genuine panic in her eyes.

"Call an ambulance!" I snapped at her, my heart pounding. Chloe fumbled for her phone, frantically searching for the emergency line.

I watched as the ambulance arrived in no time and the paramedics worked quickly, lifting my grandma onto a stretcher. I was scared. Scared of losing her, as much as she hated me, she was the pillar holding the Douglas household firm. Chloe and I followed them out, our hands clenched together, and our lips murmuring inaudible prayers. the tension between us had briefly. We were both worried for our grandma.

At the hospital, the family gathered one by one, faces drawn with worry and exhaustion. My father arrived, looking like he had rushed from a meeting, his expression grim and sour. He barely looked at me. He focused solely on his mother lying helplessly on the bed.

"What's the situation?" he demanded of the doctors.

"We were able to stabilize her, she's currently okay but needs to be monitored closely." The doctor assured him and the rest of the family present.

I stood apart from others feeling a sense of guilt. Listening to the doctor's reassuring words, made me sigh in relief, letting the bag of guilt on my shoulder fall off. I had been blaming myself all along, hoping nothing bad happened to Madame Rosette.

I glanced at Chloe who was still overly shaken by what happened earlier. Seeing her genuine soft side today made me realize her rooted love for Grandma.

"Now, I need to know what happened?" Dad's commanding voice gathered the attention of every house member present. They all turned to look at me and Chloe, their face eager for an explanation.

I didn't know what to say, I couldn't tell them about the fight, but I knew they were entitled to the truth."I....She....Grandma just—" I was suddenly interrupted by Chloe.

"It's all her fault" Chloe pointed at me, her cold eyes meeting mine as she spoke. "You knew grandma's condition, yet you continued to trigger her."

At this point, I was amazed at how good of a liar, Chloe was. We both knew this wasn't what happened but, I was tired of defending myself. I looked around, the darting gaze of the whole family was invisibly cutting through the silence.

"Elizabeth, follow me. We need to talk"

Dad's icy voice finally broke the silence.

I quietly bowed my head, lifting my heavy feet off the ground, each step dreadful but yet inevitable.

We stepped into the hallway, and the hospital's fluorescent lights cast a warm glow. The scent of antiseptic hit my delicate nostrils.

"Dad, What she said was—" Dad raised a hand to stop me from speaking.

"Enough," he said sharply, his eyes cold and hard.

"Dad, please, you have to believe me—"

"Elizabeth, not another word," he interrupted, his voice like ice. "I'm deeply disappointed in you."

Dad's voice cracked through my walls, hitting me like a slap. Just that morning, he had looked at me for the first time with pride, and a warmth that had filled her heart. Now, that warmth felt like a distant memory, replaced by a chill that seeped into her bones.

"Dad, I—"

"No," he cut me off, his voice breaking. "I don't want to hear it. I trusted you, Elizabeth. I believed in you. And now I see I made a grave mistake."

He turned away from me, his shoulders slumped as if carrying the weight of his disappointment. I tried to reach out, to make him understand, to vindicate myself, but each time my mouth hung open, no words seemed right.

I watched him walk away, with tears streaming down my face. I returned to the ward only to meet Grandma and Chloe chatting.

"Grandma, that was an amazing performance you put out there" Chloe laughed, giving her a high five.

"Of course, she needed to be taught a lesson." "I'm sure the one person on her side wouldn't mind me throwing her out, this time for good." I heard Grandma speak, her voice hale and hearty.

My heart dropped into my stomach, it was an act after all, how low could these stoop to bring me down? Without much thought, I barged in angrily.

"Bravo! Two shameless actors" I clapped, appreciating their talent. I truly fell for their cheap trick this time.

"I'm sure you must have learned never to mess with me." Madame Rosette commented with no remorse in her eyes.

"Wait until I let the entire family know this was all a show."

"You think anyone would believe you?" Chloe snorted at me. "You still don't get it, do you? No one wants you here, Elizabeth."

Just as I was about to speak, I saw Aunt Martha standing by the door, her face pale.

I was certain she heard the whole conversation.

"Thank Goodness you're here" I swiftly moved towards her ushering her to come in.